A group that includes leading conservative lawyers and policy experts, former Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and several senior officials of the last Bush administration is denouncing as “shameful” Republican attacks on lawyers who came to the Obama Justice Department after representing suspected terrorists.

Senate Republicans have demanded details of the lawyers’ past work and Liz Cheney’s group “Keep America Safe” has questioned their “values.” A drumbeat of Republican criticism forced the Justice Department reluctantly to identify seven of them last week. But the harshness of the criticism – Keep America Safe labeled a group of them the “Al Qaeda Seven” — has provoked a backlash from across the legal establishment.

Below is the full-statement signed by Starr and other conservatives:

The past several days have seen a shameful series of attacks on attorneys in the Department of Justice who, in previous legal practice, either represented Guantanamo detainees or advocated for changes to detention policy. As attorneys, former officials and policy specialists who have worked on detention issues, we consider these attacks both unjust to the individuals in question and destructive of any attempt to build lasting mechanisms for counterterrorism adjudications.

The past several days have seen a shameful series of attacks on attorneys in the Department of Justice who, in previous legal practice, either represented Guantanamo detainees or advocated for changes to detention policy. As attorneys, former officials and policy specialists who have worked on detention issues, we consider these attacks both unjust to the individuals in question and destructive of any attempt to build lasting mechanisms for counterterrorism adjudications.

The American tradition of zealous representation of unpopular clients is at least as old as John Adams’s representation of the British soldiers charged in the Boston massacre. People come to serve in the Justice Department with a diverse array of prior private clients; that is one of the department’s strengths. The War on Terror raised any number of novel legal questions, which collectively created a significant role in judicial, executive and legislative forums alike for honorable advocacy on behalf of detainees. In several key cases, detainee advocates prevailed before the Supreme Court. To suggest that the Justice Department should not employ talented lawyers who have advocated on behalf of detainees maligns the patriotism of people who have taken honorable positions on contested questions and demands a uniformity of background and view in government service from which no administration would benefit.

Such attacks also undermine the Justice system more broadly. In terrorism detentions and trials alike, defense lawyers are playing, and will continue to play, a key role. Whether one believes in trial by military commission or in federal court, detainees will have access to counsel. Guantanamo detainees likewise have access to lawyers for purposes of habeas review, and the reach of that habeas corpus could eventually extend beyond this population. Good defense counsel is thus key to ensuring that military commissions, federal juries, and federal judges have access to the best arguments and most rigorous factual presentations before making crucial decisions that affect both national security and paramount liberty interests. To delegitimize the role detainee counsel play is to demand adjudications and policymaking stripped of a full record. Whatever systems America develops to handle difficult detention questions will rely, at least some of the time, on an aggressive defense bar; those who take up that function do a service to the system.

Benjamin Wittes
Robert Chesney
Matthew Waxman
David Rivkin
Lee Casey
Philip Bobbitt
Peter Keisler
Bradford Berenson
Kenneth Anderson
John Bellinger III
Philip Zelikow
Kenneth W. Starr
Larry Thompson
Charles “Cully” D. Stimson
Chuck Rosenberg
Harvey Rishikoff
Orin Kerr
Daniel Dell’Orto

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A church, like a person, can come out of the closet. And that’s what Royal Lane Baptist did recently.

The 500-member church in North Dallas has for years quietly welcomed gays and lesbians, even ordaining some as deacons.  Last month, risking conflict with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a majority of deacons voted to change Royal Lane’s Web site to reflect the church’s welcome to and affirmation of gays and lesbians.

“In effect, this is a collective coming out about who we are and have been for a long time,” said Ruth May, vice chair of the deacons.

The Web site now includes the line: “We are a vibrant mosaic of varied racial identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and denominational backgrounds.”

The Rev. David Matthews, the church’s pastor, emphasized that members had not voted to change Royal Lane’s mission statement or bylaws, which do not address homosexuality. But he agreed that the revised Web site is a public statement that the church welcomes gays and lesbians and does not think they need to remain celibate or try to change their sexual orientation.

“There were a handful [of deacons] who voted against it, indicating that they were not voting against gay members of the church, but just the advertising of it,” Matthews said. “Other than that, it was approved. You never know what the long-term reaction is going to be, but so far I think everybody feels OK with it.”

Hodges notes that Royal Lane’s public affirming position likely will cause some controversy in Texas Baptist life:

“The convention has been clear in its belief that the Bible teaches homosexual behavior is sinful,” said Randel Everett, the BGCT’s executive director. “As to the specific situation at Royal Lane Baptist Church, it would be premature for me to comment until I have spoken with the congregation’s leadership and gained all the facts.”

Matthews said Royal Lane wants to remain in the BGCT, a vehicle by which Baptist churches support evangelism, Baptist colleges and universities, and emergency relief efforts.  He noted that Baptists traditionally have placed a high value on church autonomy, and he said he hopes the BGCT will not interfere in Royal Lane’s case.

…Royal Lane’s situation could be more complicated than Broadway’s, since Royal Lane’s membership includes BGCT staff members.

Read the entire article here.

See the website of Royal Lane Baptist Church.

In addition to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Royal Lane Baptist Church is also affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

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Here is a snippet:

Joining a new abolitionist movement

Citing biblical passages, a growing number of Baptists are showing that light defeats darkness, exposes what is taking place and puts an end to it. Using a variety of methods, they are seeking to raise awareness about human trafficking as an issue, prevent it from taking place and aid victims of the atrocity.

Many of these “new abolitionists” will be taking part in the Freedom Sunday on Feb. 21, the first-ever day that churches worldwide have set aside to pray for human-trafficking victims.

Southside City Church has launched activities for at-risk children in its community, including a karate class, in hopes of stopping trafficking of children before it happens. The programs are held in an area where children are known to become involved in gangs, which increases the likelihood of a child being trafficked or forced into prostitution.

Kudos to John Hall for such a timely article which you can read in full here.

You can learn more about Freedom Sunday here.

Freedom Sunday will be held on February 21, 2010, the first Sunday of the season of Lent.  The concept behind Freedom Sunday is to give faith communities encouragement and assistance so that the faithful can worship, intercede, and act with a clear focus on ending slavery in their communities and world.  Resources, a webpage, and networks are being developed and readied throughout the month of December.

A few Baptist churches participating in Freedom Sunday include:

South Shore Baptist Church, Hingham, MA
Berean Baptist Church, Harrisville, RI
Lima Baptist Church, Lima, NY
Lower Burrell Baptist Church, Westmoreland, PA
First Baptist Church, Milan, MI
First Baptist Church, Keokuk, IA
Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington, KY
First Baptist Church, Joelton, TN
Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, GA
First Baptist Church, Mary Esther, FL
Lisbon Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA
Parkway Baptist Church, Duluth, GA
First Baptist Church, Watkinsville, GA
First Baptist Church, Richmond, TX
Oakland Baptist Church, Oakland, CA
Calvary Baptist Church, Santa Barbara, CA

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Starr, dean of Pepperdine Law School, got an unexpected welcoming embrace after his talk.

Several members of Baylor’s notorious NoZe Brotherhood stormed the stage, surrounding Starr. He took the gag in stride, good-naturedly laughing and posing for pictures.

Starr even sported the NoZe Brotherhood’s trademark glasses and fake nose as they presented him with a copy of former president Bill Clinton’s book “My Life.”

Ken Starr was named Bro. Non Hostis HumaNoZe Generis

Other notable Ornery Brothers include:

Bill Cosby - Bro. J-E-L-L-NoZe
John Dean - Bro. Dean of Dirty Tricks
Hayden Fry - Bro. Crotch Grabber
Billy Graham - Bro. Cracker Noze Graham
Leon Jaworski - Bro. Water Noze Jaworski
Dan Rather - Bro. CBS Evening NoZe
William Underwood - Bro. Pro BoNoZe

Background on the NoZe Brotherhood is here and a link to a pretty funny stunt in chapel here.

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And here is a lengthy farewell tribute blog post from a California minister/lawyer/adjunct professor who once worked with Starr.

Marv Knox of the Baptist Standard has by far the best article on Starr and his faith titled Starr affirms Baylor’s Baptist heritage, plans to become Baptist.

Starr particularly affirmed twin doctrines championed by Baptists for four centuries — soul competency and the priesthood of all believers, he said.

“Our great mediator is Christ Jesus, our Lord,” he added, affirming the individual’s right and responsibility to relate directly to God, as well as Baptists’ non-hierarchical view of divine relationship that reflects those principles.

“We have been given gifts of reason to seek to discern biblical truth and then to exercise our conscience,” he said. And this manifestation of soul competency results in “the precious, almost quintessentially American but deeply Baptist, commitment to the separation of church and state.”

David Lowrie, President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, met with Starr yesterday and has blogged about the meeting.  From Lowrie:

I was particularly impressed by his grasp of the principles of Baptist life. Even though Starr was raised in the Church of Christ, he championed the historic Baptist values of separation of church and state and soul competency. I walked way from my brief encounter with President Starr impressed by the ease in which he spoke of his faith, his professional commitment to live out his faith in the public arena, and his passion for higher Christian education.

The Waco Tribune and Baylor University have posted short interviews with Starr.

See also: Some Baptists gaze at Starr with cautious optimism for Baylor

And for a different perspective, see this open letter to the Baylor University Board of Regents penned by Chris Seay.  An alum of Baylor, Seay currently serves as pastor at Ecclesia Church in Houston.  Along with David Crowder, Seay helped start University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas in the mid-90s.  Here’s a snippet:

It seemed clear to all that the next President of our great University must be more Billy Graham than Karl Rove. We need someone who is able to remind us that our diverse views and experiences allow for the kind of educational environment that we can all be proud to offer our children. Instead of seeking a peacemaker, the Board of Regents has selected one of the most polarizing public figures in recent history, and in doing so, has injected partisan politics as one more reason to seek division rather than unity in the Baylor family.

Ken Starr will be introduced to the Baylor community today at 3pm.  The gathering will be live-streamed and then archived online immediately following the event.  You can watch here.

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“In my extensive dealings with Ken Starr over the past two decades - concerning some important civil liberties issues on which we have collaborated as allies, and other important issues on which we have strongly but respectfully disagreed - I have always found him to be not only a zealous, brilliant advocate on the biggest issues of the day, but also someone who is deeply concerned about and kind to every individual he encounters. From the students for whom he is impressively available, to the Death Row inmates whose legal appeals he has handled on a pro bono basis, he is unstintingly generous with his time, expertise, and wisdom. Ken Starr is deeply committed to academic freedom and to the robust exchange of ideas, including ideas with which he personally disagrees. He will be a superb leader of Baylor University and a wonderful mentor and role model for all of Baylor’s students.”

Nadine Strossen
Former President, American Civil Liberties Union (1991-2008)
Professor of Law, New York Law School

For more endorsements, see here.

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The Baylor University Board of Regents will introduce Ken Starr to Faculty/Staff on Tuesday at 3pm.

*Update* The Waco Tribune is also reporting that Ken Starr has been named the next President of Baylor University.

*Update* Politico is also reporting the selection of Starr.

*Update* Marv Knox of the Baptist Standard has a report on the selection as well.

Still no word from Baylor yet.

This is from KWTX, the CBS-affiliate of Waco, Texas:

WACO (February 14, 2010) - Sources close to the presidential search tell News 10 that Kenneth Starr will be named Baylor’s 14th President, with an announcement coming as early as Monday.

The Texas native is currently the dean of the Pepperdine University School of Law.  A woman who answered the phone at Starr’s home in Malibu said Mr. Starr was unavailable on Sunday evening.

The University has been searching for a president since the Board of Regents forced former President John Lilley out in mid-2008.  David Garland was appointed interim president on August 20, 2008. He is also dean of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Starr, an accomplished lawyer, is probably best known for serving as Independent Counsel during President Bill Clinton’s term.  Starr authored “The Starr Report” which is widely believed to have been a key factor in the House of Representatives voting to impeach Clinton in 1998.  Calls to Baylor’s Director of Media Relations were not returned Sunday night.

Watch the video of this KWTX report here.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Ken Starr.

Pepperdine University is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and Starr is the son of a Church of Christ minister (see Wikipedia).  Starr is a former long-time member of McLean Bible Church, a non-denominational evangelical megachurch located in the D.C. suburbs.

According to the Waco Tribune, Starr will join a Baptist church upon moving to Waco.

Baylor Law professor Mark Osler has praised the decision on his blog here.

The Southern Baptist blog SBC Today is upset that Starr is not a Baptist.

Comments on the hire of Starr over at the blog of the journal First Things and Christianity Today.

Hundreds of responses from Twitter.  On the Baptist front, see Al Mohler and his sidekick Russ Moore.

A Pepperdine Law Professor, Colleen Graffy, is here.

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From The Orange County Register:

Southern Baptist Pastor Wiley Drake of Buena Park sent out an email Monday night, saying that perhaps his prayers had been answered with the death of Rep. John Murtha yesterday.

“Maybe God took him out,” Drake wrote. “Maybe God Answered our IMPRECATORY prayer that we prayed every 30 days.”

The Pennsylvania congressman, a decorated former Marine who fiercely opposed the Iraq war, died at the age of 77 after complications from gallbladder surgery.

I asked Drake if his statements weren’t distasteful, particularly coming immediately after Murtha’s death. He said that as a Christian, he didn’t buy into the sentiment of not speaking ill of the dead.

“It’s not distasteful to pray the word of God and include somebody’s name,” he said. “I didn’t celebrate his death. I said maybe it was God’s answer to our imprecatory prayer.”

Drake regularly asks his “prayer warriors” to participate in prayer targeting “unrighteous” politicians. He typically uses Psalms 109, including these passages including in his Monday email: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” And, “Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.”

At one point, Drake prayed for the death of President Barack Obama. However, he dropped that because he wants to see Obama faces charges that he is not a natural-born citizen and so cannot be president. Drake has such a lawsuit on appeal.

Drake said he and his prayer warriors had been praying for Murtha’s death for four or five months. Among other things, Drake said Murtha’s use of profanity and his use of God’s name in vain. Beside praying for the death of specific politicians, he said they pray for “politicians in general who are taking unrighteous stands.”

Back in 2006, Southern Baptists elected Wiley Drake to serve as the 2nd Vice-President of the Southern Baptist Convention.  For a brief intro to Wiley, see here.

Here’s what I find interesting: Top Southern Baptist leaders from Morris Chapman, CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, to SBC President Johnny Hunter to former SBC Frank Page (and others) have intervened in the situation in Haiti regarding the arrested group of Idaho Southern Baptists.  Clearly these prominent Southern Baptists have gone public in part because of the obvious damage being done to the reputation of the SBC - a PR nightmare indeed!

One would think that these on-going stories about Wiley Drake is also not good for the Southern Baptist brand, right?  I mean, it was Southern Baptists - not anyone else- who elected this kook.

How many Southern Baptist leaders have spoken out against the hateful rhetoric of their former 2nd Vice President, Wiley Drake? The only response to Drake that I’m familiar with came last year when Sing Oldham, vice president for convention relations with the SBC Executive Committee, told a reporter that “Mr. Drake does not represent Southern Baptist actions, resolutions or positions in his interpretation and application of imprecatory prayers.”

Just wondering where Frank Page, Johnny Hunt and Morris Chapman are on this?

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Tancredo’s offensive comment invoking the memory of the Jim Crow South is definitely not his first racist rant.  Not too long ago, Tancredo asserted that immigrants must adopt “White, Anglo Saxon culture.”  Without a doubt, the Tea Party organizers knew what they were getting when inviting Tom Tancredo.

Southern Baptist pastor Rick Scarborough of Vision America was also a featured speaker at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville.  Describing the United States as a “special country,” the Rev. Scarborough declared: “If we are to become 30 per cent Hispanic we will no longer be America…That would be a bad thing.”

With guys like Tancredo and Scarborough as popular keynote speakers, who can deny the centrality of racism and xenophobia to the Tea Party Movement?  We live in a nation plagued with ongoing race-related problems.  We live in a thoroughly racialized society.

What message then does it send to people of color when predominantly white, conservative evangelicals are seen out and about in support of this Tea Party Movement, a movement which proudly puts racists and xenophobes like Tancredo and Scarborough front-and-center?

Certainly these white, conservative evangelicals can find a way to express their views about the role and size of the government without identifying with a movement whose most visible representatives includes overtly racist individuals.  Right?

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Melissa Rogers, chair of the Advisory Council and Director of the Center for Religion and Public Affairs at Wake Forest University Divinity School, has posted the final vote tallies here.

The first listed question considered asked:

1. Should the government allow nongovernmental providers of federally funded social services to provide those services in rooms that contain religious art, scripture, messages, or symbols?

Only Fred Davie of The Arcus Foundation and Nancy Ratzan of the National Council of Jewish Women answered NO to the above question.  Here is their full answer:

a. No.  Amend existing regulations, guidance, and an executive order to permit nongovernmental organizations to offer federally funded programming only in areas devoid of religious art, scripture, messages, or symbols.

The Advisory Council was divided 13 (yes) - 12 (no) on the question of whether the government should require houses of worship to form separate corporations to receive direct federal social service funds.

Here is the answer of those voting YES:

a. Yes, the government should require houses of worship that wish to receive direct federal social service funds to establish separate corporations as a necessary means for achieving church-state separation and protecting religious autonomy, while also urging states to reduce any unnecessary administrative costs and burdens associated with attaining this status.

Notable Baptists voting YES include the Rev. Otis Moss Jr of Olivet Institutional Baptist Churches, William Shaw of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. and Melissa Rogers of Wake Forest University Divinity School.

Officials from the Church of God in Christ, African Methodist Episcopal Church and Disciples of Christ also voted YES along with Jim Wallis of Sojourners.

And here is the answer of those voting NO:

b. No, the government should not require separate incorporation, because it is not always the best means to achieve these goals, and because it may be prohibitively costly and onerous, particularly for smaller organizations, resulting in the disruption and deterrence of effective and constitutionally permissible relationships.

Dr. Frank Page, former President of the Southern Baptist Convention, was the only Baptist on the Advisory Council (that I’m aware of) who voted NO on this question.

Others voting NO included officials from the Christian Community Development Association, Mexican American Catholic College, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, The Center for Muslim Studies, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities, World Vision and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Also, the President-Elect of the the National Council of Churches voted NO along with Rev. Joel Hunter of Northland Church.

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