The Judge & His God

Does God ever sit on the judge's bench? He does if the judge really seeks Him, thinks Federal Judge Harold R. Medina, who presided over the trial of the eleven top-ranking U.S. Communists. Last week the Living Church quoted from a speech by Episcopalian Medina on the subject, "The Judge and His God":

"There is much in the Bible about judges, but I do not know of any judge who has discussed the impact of religion upon his profession . . . Fortunately for me, I was taught to pray from so early a time that I cannot remember going to bed at night without saying my prayers ... I do not see why a judge should be ashamed that he prays for divine guidance and for strength to do his duty . . .

"There came a time . . . when I did the most sincere and the most fervent praying that I have ever done in my life. I suddenly found myself in the midst of the trial of the Communists. It took me a long time to realize what they were trying to do to me. But as I got weaker and weaker, and found the burden difficult to bear, I sought strength from the one source that never fails.

"Let me be specific. There came a time when one of the defendants on the stand refused to answer a question, pleading a supposed constitutional privilege which obviously had no application. I gave him time to consult with his counsel. I held the matter in abeyance overnight, and on the next day ... I sentenced the man to prison for 30 days, unless he should sooner purge himself of contempt by answering the question. Pandemonium broke loose. The other ten defendants and their lawyers, and many of the spectators, rose to their feet; there was a great shouting and hullabaloo, and several of the defendants started toward the bench.

"In all that excitement, I felt just as calm as I do now ... I did not raise my voice ... I singled out several of those men, identified the language they were using, got it on the record, and sentenced each of them to imprisonment for the balance of the trial.

"I tell you . . . that I never had the will and the self-control to do these things. If ever a man felt the presence of someone beside him, strengthening his will and giving him aid and comfort, I certainly did on that day . . .

"After all is said and done, it is not we who pull the strings; we are not the masters, but the servants of our Master's will; and it is well that we should know it to be so."

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