NationStates Jolt Archive

A judge who claims to be able to see into the future and who consults with mystical dwarves has been fired by the Phillipino government. This kind of makes you wonder how someone like that becomes a judge in the first place. Also, did the government infringe on this guy's religious liberties? Who's to say that the mystical dwarves don't exist?

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20060503/2006-05-03T131002Z_01_MAN183690_RTRIDST_0_ODD-PHILIPPINES-JUDGE-DC.html

i wonder if he would have been fired if he said he belived in a guy that died and then came back to life, and then flew up to heaven?

Also, did the government infringe on this guy's religious liberties? Who's to say that the mystical dwarves don't exist?

No, because he wasn't doing his job. He's paid to consider the issues, not decide based on mystic mumbo-jumbo so he should be sacked. Just as people should kick out a politican who gets guidence from "God" instead actually bothering to work out what's the best thing to do.

A judge who claims to be able to see into the future and who consults with mystical dwarves has been fired by the Phillipino government. This kind of makes you wonder how someone like that becomes a judge in the first place. Also, did the government infringe on this guy's religious liberties? Who's to say that the mystical dwarves don't exist?

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20060503/2006-05-03T131002Z_01_MAN183690_RTRIDST_0_ODD-PHILIPPINES-JUDGE-DC.html

As a Filopino (well half) i can sum up the reason why in one word 'Nepotism'

He can see into the future, that has to be a desirable feature in a judge.

He can see into the future, that has to be a desirable feature in a judge.

Not really. Much more useful to be able to see the past clearly I would have thought. I guess that might be the reason he was sacked. Using Precogs instead of clairvoyants.

If someone isn't doing their job right, or if they are actively trying to associate religon with their job, you have the right to fire them. Judges should make calls based on the law, and what is just, not based on anything else.

Is there religious liberty in the Phillippines?

If he could see into the future, surely he would have seen that he was going to be sacked, and consulted the mystic dwarves to defend himself...?

If he could see into the future, surely he would have seen that he was going to be sacked, and consulted the mystic dwarves to defend himself...?
Ah, but these mystic dwarves gave him free will. Which is why bad things happen to him. *nod*

Is there religious liberty in the Phillippines?

yes pretty much unless you are muslim.

As valid and worthy of respect as any other religious system. :rolleyes:

As valid and worthy of respect as any other religious system. :rolleyes:
yes true, however a war between Christians and Muslim has raged on and off since the days of spanish colonial rule in the Archipelago (mainly in the south).
As a result relations are less than perfect.

If one of the dwarves had been named "Jesus," there wouldn't have been so much as a peep of complaint.

If one of the dwarves had been named "Jesus," there wouldn't have been so much as a peep of complaint.
I disagree. Choices made in a court of law should not be based on the judge's religion. Period.

I disagree. Choices made in a court of law should not be based on the judge's religion. Period.
The important word there is "should."

In my country, supposedly one of the most modern nations in the world, we still allow people to use magical fairies as justification for not doing their jobs. Our leaders routinely admit that they are acting at the direction of a magical fairy. Our president has remarked on several occasions that he consults a magic fairy about important policy decisions. And the majority of our population has stated that they would not be willing to vote for a politician who does not believe in magic fairies.

Personally, I think it's okay to do your job while insane as long as you are functional at it. But then again, I'm somewhat biased. :)

I really think it matters what kind of role the dwarves play in this; Was he basically listening to them and ignoring the facts of the case, or was he consulting them on the case at hand? Mystic dwarves make an excellent sounding board and can offer very lucid and useful opinions but I don't know if I would trust them to run my court for me. They get awfully grumpy when hungry. :p

Religion or not, if his judgements weren't based on the law, and he wasn't doing his job properly, he can kiss his position goodbye.

Not really. Much more useful to be able to see the past clearly I would have thought. I guess that might be the reason he was sacked. Using Precogs instead of clairvoyants.

Very true, he just needs to refine his abilities a little.