Seth Milner wrote:
"I neither support or condone Ms. Davis' actions." I don't support or condone the flight attendant; the airline did what they felt was in the best interest of their business.
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Well, I could accurately say that "I neither support or condone Ms. Davis' actions," too, (I think you meant to have an "oppose" in there somewhere), but that's not really the question. She did what she did, and my or your approval or disapproval doesn't matter. The question is pretty simple to ask, however. What is an appropriate action for a judge to take when a person repeatedly refuses to comply with a court order? Since we no longer have stocks and floggings, it seems the choices are: (1) ignore it and allow the continued non-compliance, which of course would not be doing his job; (2) fine her; (3) toss her in jail. Continuing negotiations with her and her bottom feeding lawyer would also be reasonable, except that that path had pretty well run out of road.
Those who "support" Davis are saying that her clear and demonstrable contempt should be ignored because she's doing so based on her religion. So where does that path lead? The possibility of anyone being able to ignore court orders with impunity if they simply say "religion made me do it." This case is different from any other non-compliance contempt case only in that her "supporters" just don't like the law that she refused to follow, even though that train has not only left the station, but is long gone down the track. But they're happy to let Davis pretend to be a "martyr" on an issue she has no chance of winning. They all know the law isn't changing; that absent either an agreement to let the Deputies do their job or resigning, that the judge has little alternative to keeping Davis in jail. If they really wanted to "support" Davis, they'd send her a couple of real lawyers and encourage her to take a path that will let her keep her job. That path apparently remains open and so far the "supporters" aren't helping her go down it. With friends like those...