Hello ,
A Michigan judge handed down an unusual ruling. Judge Raymond Voet has a clearly posted policy in his courtroom that electronic devices causing a disturbance during court sessions will result in the owner being cited with contempt of court. He usually imposes a fine of $25 on top of that. But on a Friday afternoon in April 2013 he enforced that policy on
himself.
During the prosecutor's closing argument, the judge's new smartphone, which was in his shirt pocket, loudly requested that Voet give the phone voice commands for voice dialing.
Voet said, "I'm guessing I bumped it. It started talking really loud, saying 'I can't understand you.' My face got as red as a beet." Voet tried to turn it off, but the phone kept talking and creating a disturbance.
Voet added, "I set the bar high, because cell phones are a distraction and there is very serious business going on. The courtroom is a special place in the community, and it needs more respect than that. I tow a tough line, and I got to back it up this
afternoon."
At the next recess, Voet held himself in contempt of court, fined himself $25. Later on, Voet said, "Judges are humans. They're not above the rules. I broke the rule and I have to live by it." Voet paid the fine immediately.
People make mistakes, and Christians are no exception to that reality.
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13
God calls us to be honest with ourselves, and with others. His grace is sufficient to bring us to it, and through it.
Have a great day and God bless!
Pastor Mike / The Open Word
