Texas clerk to face Grand Jury for issues regarding defending the Pledge and Prayer? To be removed from office?
Bowie County Clerk Natalie Nichols
UPDATE: As reported by Big Government, “They agreed to include the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation back into the meeting minutes.” Score one for Natalie and the people who put the pressure on.
################### END ###################
How does an elected official, who defends the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer, wind up staring down the Grand Jury? A Texas County Judge who was, in part, responsible for voting to remove the Pledge of Allegiance and the Prayer from official court records in Texas, appears to be seeking revenge.
Judge Sterling Lacy has asked the Bowie County Sheriff, James Prince, to “investigate whether actions by Clerk Natalie Nichols at Monday’s meeting constitute disrupting a public meeting,” the Texarkana Gazette reports.
Disrupting a public meeting in Texas is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. If convicted of official misconduct, it results in an automatic, immediate REMOVAL FROM OFFICE!
During a Bowie County Commissioners Court Meeting on July 11, 2011, Lacy addressed the members of the court about the removal of the Pledge and Prayer from court documents, claiming that the minutes that left out “the opening ceremony of devotional, Prayer and pledge,” (the devotional was never an issue until the commissioners court got called to the carpet) prompting Nichols to say “that’s not true….the Pledge and Prayer are most certainly there,” which caused Lacy to try to silence her, resulting in her exasperated comment, “but you’re lying.”
Nichols immediately made a public apology for the interruption, but not for her stance.
However, it was Lacy and two other members of the court who voted to remove the Pledge and Prayer from the records from a June 13th meeting in which Nichols was out of town. Nichols refused to do so.
There is one problem for Lacy, it was caught on tape.
Bowie County Judge Sterling Lacy
On June 13, 2011, while Nichols was away at training, Judge Lacy and two other members of the Commissioners Court voted to remove the Pledge of Allegiance and the Prayer from the court documents prepared by Nichols, and even went so far as to mark through the items on the official records.
On June 23, Nichols confronted the court about their actions and stood her ground, refusing to remove the Prayer and Pledge from the records. (see video below)
Nichols, who was only informed of the investigation by the local paper, has not been contacted by the Sheriff. This same Sheriff, according to the latest article, has already made the decision to give his future findings to the District Attorney Jerry Rochelle and “request it be sent to a grand jury.”
So two days after being asked to conduct an investigation, the Sheriff already knows they need a grand jury without interviewing Nichols about the incident? For one official calmly interrupting another?
So this is what we have come to as a Nation? An elected official defends our Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer, holds other elected officials accountable and calls them out for untruths, and faces jail time to do it?
IN TEXAS??????
As Toby Keith said…that ain’t my America!
Leave it to North Carolina to come to the rescue. The Moore TEA Citizens group has started a petition to support Natalie Nichols.
But right now it looks like she needs a lawyer and legal fund!
Original Story with videos here
Other articles related to this story:
World Net Daily: An unholy war in Texas
The Examiner: Sarah Palin inspires Clerk Nichols to “Fight like a Girl!”
Sodahead: This happened in Texas
Victory Film Group: A Time for Choosing
Brazos Valley Pundit: Clerk finds herself engaged in cultural combat
Patriot Statesman: Clerk fights for Pledge and Prayer
Rusty Humphries Show: Guest Natalie Nichols talks about fight over Pledge and Prayer
B.S. complete B.S. I am all over this, get ready for this to explode! Hang on Natalie!
Hold on Natalie, Im with you all the way! We must stand up for our country & constitution & GOD!
Bowie County needs to get a REAL judge into office. If Lacy hates America so much, why doesn’t he take his kooky bigotry and move south of the border? America needs patriots, not sell-out traitors.
In Texas, of all States. I find it hard to believe that a JUDGE would take the kind of action that he has.
Lyndon Johnson should be alive now.
I support Natalie!! Not sure why the judge is doing this. Disappointing, My opinion would be for Judge Lacy to find a spine and stand up for God and country, no matter what just as Natalie is doing.
What the heck is this world coming to? Its all about other people coming from other countries who we have to bow down to. I am sick to death of all this crap! If they don’t like what Amerrica stands for and we have to appease them, stay in your own country.
and why do i have to press 1 for english ??????
Way to go Natalie. We need more people like you to stand up for our
God, our country and our rights. How can we get rid of this judge.
Obviously he is not loyal to what the majority of the people in Texas
believe. Get rid of him.
The question was asked, ” How can we get rid of this judge? “. I suggest you see him as a varmit, I bet you know the next step without so much as a word!
The Pledge of Allegiance is a violation of Church & State. That, however, has nothing to do with this. The woman was out of order in a court. Do that any other time and see what happens.
there is no law called “the separation of church and state” – wiki it
People throw around this seperation of church and state idea like it is really written somewhere that matters. IT IS NOT. go study the constitution and bill of rights before spouting things you know not.
To say that the “Pledge of Allegiance” is a violation of church & state is one of the most rediculous statements I have heard in quite sometime! When standing up for my God (Jehovah) becomes illegal, I guess Mrs. Nichols and myself can communicate through the walls of the jail.
Mr. Smith – How is the Pledge of Allegiance a violation of church and state?
Evil flourishes when good men do nothing.
Contact info.
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/County.aspx?CountyCode=37&CountyName=Bowie
Unbelievable in NE Texas!! Bowie County wake up and throw these communists out of office!!!! If they have no gratitude for this great nation and the One True God who gave us this nation then they certainly don’t need to be holding office!!
Hang in there Natalie….hope this video goes viral!
First the vid ain’t working:(
Second has Natalie been contacted by any LAWYERS?
Third Natalie stick to your guns girl, your not standing alone on this:)
sorry but “prayer doesn’t belong anywhere….religion was created to control and oppress people and is the biggest lie in the history of man and christianiy is the biggest hyporacy of all time…..sorry but it’s about time some one had a rational thought….i thought they were shifty in the way they went about it but thats a politician for you no matter how small the government……..=)
I have news for your Dave, the actually voted to have them put on the Agenda for the future. In the same meeting, Lacy told the members of the court and the audience that the prayer and pledge were omitted from the minutes, which was untrue, which prompted Nichols response. Lacy lied, Nichols called him on it, now she is facing a Grand Jury.
So lying is not out of order but calling a pig a pig is?
like he said….that ain’t my America!
You are an idiot!
Dave your thought isn’t rational, just regurgitation of leftist communism.. You a commy Dave?
pig….christian….whats the difference
Dave the difference…..yep you guessed it your the pig!
“Where is the outcry over the devotional” Stupid slimy piece of crap! You vote to take out our beloved Pledge of Allegiance, double cross your Christian values by removing the Prayer from the record of history, and then try to make yourself out to be a hero by crying about a devotional that you did not call?
What the hell kind of man are you????
the clerk has more balls than all you sitting on your highhorse superficial asses combined.
What do you stand for Lacy? Not America!!!
What this judge did does not surprise me at all. During one of our hearings in Smith County (May 26, 2006) Judge Floyd T. Getz had the audacity to tell us and I quote: “we’re not going by the Constitution in this court today!” He not only violated his oath of office, but that was treason against the Constitution, but he’s still on the bench today. The Judicial Disciplinary Committee didn’t care, the Appellate Court didn’t care, and the Supreme Court didn’t care. I live in Ohio and have absolutely NO RESPECT for the Texas Court System. Look up the case on Luke Forrest Humphrey. The Ad Litem, J. Scott Killough was forced to give up all interest in $104,000.00 and then we believe he gave the final order to murder Luke. There is no excuse for what most of the judges get away with. It’s standard policy in Texas to remove items from court records. That’s why they don’t allow tape recorders in their court rooms.
Even if Miss Nichols stands up to them the “good ole boys” will gang up and her and will mentally and emotionally ‘rape’ her. What’s even worse is the voters in Texas are so ignorant that they will more than likely VOTE the nasty judge back in office. It’s a no win situation in Texas. Glad I live in OHIO. JoAnn Bowshot
Interesting…Lacy gave the invovation he wants stricken from the record.
http://www.facebook.com/AdvanceLiberty?sk=info <- how do we get this info to her?
Natalie Nichols, you are a true patriot! Stay the course!!
Gotta love dave and all the other idiots whining about the separation of church and state supporting Islam.
Very simple — when one official levels this sort of charge at another, an automatic charge of “misconduct under color of authority” should also be levied against the accuser, and both sent to the grand jury simultaneously. If either one prevails, try it in court — if neither or both is upheld, both officials should be dismissed.
The reality of what’s going on here is pretty amusing. Sterling Lacy is actually a fundamentalist ordained pastor and a 40 year member of the John Birch society. Don’t know what he was up to with this bit of nonsense, but I doubt it would make sense to a sane person. He’s just another one of the nuts that fall into these offices in small-town Texas, and now that he got his widdle feelings hurt he wants to play dictator.
Oh, and “County Judge” in Texas is not really a “Judge”, and this incident didn’t happen “in Court” but rather at a county commissioner’s meeting.
it’s just the kind of thing that makes small town Texas go around – funny to see it get so much publicity. Next he’s going to call for a Grand Jury hearing to see who took the last Twinkie out of the icebox when everyone knew he had dibs on it.
(btw, I live about 100 miles from there in another smaller Texas town)
On the separation of church and state, just remember the 1st Admentment clause on establishment and the the free exercise of religion was required in the federal constitution because at the time the constitution was being written and then approved by the states, 6 or 7 of the original 13 states in fact had a state religion. This part of the admendment was assurance to those states that this would not be over-ruled by the feds.
Oh noez the john birch society oh noez…………………I hate this guy but can we stop with the conspiracy theories.
Amazing how blind many have become in a nation where Christian truths and beliefs brought our nation so much wealth, prosperity, and peace. It’s actions such as this that only harm what is good and great about our nation.
You know the financial mess we are in right now? Wise Biblical standards were not followed and God is being pushed aside. God is a gentleman and will not interfere with our free will. Just remember, if individuals / judges who refuse to place God first in our society will one day be standing before Him as their judge.
Very well said! This stands true in every thing that is going on in America to date! It wouldn’t matter if someone gave the Government $14 trillion to solve the deficit…as long as we as a Nation turn our back on God, we “will not prosper!” Nor should we! The day is coming, (sooner than many think)that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Looks like another judge trying to get on the OBUMMER pay roll.
sounds like a JUDGE and SHERIFF needs replacing.
Ms.Nichols,
Hang in there it will get better
I am a disable vet. promoted in boot camp , sailor of the quarter , designed a mural on my ship ( which is in the ghost fleet ..USS Sylvania) and fell through a hole 20- 25 feet down flat on my back…. the EX-O of the ship caused the fall. AND on the way down, I spread my arms and say… and I quote” PLEASE LORD”…I was injuried during that ffall in 1994. and nothing was really done about it.. just pills and pills… i hold to my faith and to this day I still do. Alot of higher officials are the corrupt ones. Natalie is a great woman ,mother and someone who needs to stay in office and , maybe we should look at the ones that are trying to get her out. Prayer doesnt hurt anyone. When i served I said the Pledge of Alligence to my country.. and I was proud to serve.. but after the fall, MY LIFE CHANGED… SO I said to you people higher up, leave the good people and look deep into yourselves and check what is in your heart. EVERY MAN, WOMAN, FATHER , MOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER. SAYS THE PLEDGE WHEN GOING IN AND SERVING FOR THIS GREAT NATION. SO TO FIRE THIS WOMAN, MOTHER AND REPRESENTATIVE .. IS WRONG!! JUST WRONG!!…… ITS NOT LIKE SEE IS MAYOR BARRY OF DC ,,, WHO WE ALL REMEBER GOT HIS JOB BACK…LEAVE HER ALONE AND LET HER SERVE THIS COUNTRY AND OUR NATION. GOD BLESS YOU NATALIE. I SUPPORT YOU AND ALWAYS WILL.
DAVID W.ROSE
WAIT ONE MINUTE.. BEING A DIABLE VET. SERVING MY COUTRY WITH PRIDE. EVERY MAN ,WOMAN AND FATHER ,MOTHER ,BROTHER AND SISTER WHO SERVE FOR THIS GREAT NATION. SAYS THE Pledge of Allegiance and the Prayer. WHEN WE SIGN UP WE SAY IT. AND ON THE BATTLE FIELD THEY SAY IT. I WAS INJURED DUE THE THE INCOMPUTANCE OF THE EXO OF OUR SHIP AND I FELL. AND I SPREAD MY ARMS AND SAID ” PLEASE LORD”… THAT FALL I CAN NEVER GET OUT OF MY MINE. I HAVE DREAMS ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. BUT THE EXO WAS NEVER REPORMANDED FOR HIS ACTIONS… JUST GOT SWEPT UNDER THE RUG… WELL DONT SWEEP A GOOD MOTHER , WOMAN AND SERVANT TO THE PEOPLE UNDER THE RUG…MAYBE ITS TIME WE LIFT UP THE RUG AND FIND OUT HOW IS REALLY DIRTY UNDER THERE. NATALIE, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU…. DO NOT GIVE UP FIGHTING… CAUSE IF I HAVE TO I WILL COME FROM VIRGINIA AND SUPPORT YOU. FROM WHERE YOU CAME , TO WHO YOU HAVE BECOME.. WE NEED POEPLE LIKE YOU IN OFFICE.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND I PRAY FOR ALL THOSE SERVING FOR US, NOW AND IN THE PAST.
EVERY MOTHER,FATHER ,BROTHER,SISTER ,UNCLE, AUNT, SAYS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEFORE SIGNING UP. AND IM SURE ON THE BATTLE FIELD THERE IS PRAYER… THIS IS STUPID AND THOSE AGAINST HER … ARE AFRAID SHE WILL SOON ONE DAY TAKE THEIR JOB… DONT HOLD HER BACK.. LET THIS MOTHER SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.I am proud disable vet and pputting her in jail and finining her is WRONG… I can remeber someone named Marion Barry… he got his job back.. there is nothing wrong with saying the pledge and if talking about prayer… how about giving a minute of silence.. as their prayer.???
EVERY MOTHER,FATHER ,BROTHER,SISTER ,UNCLE, AUNT, SAYS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEFORE SIGNING UP. AND IM SURE ON THE BATTLE FIELD THERE IS PRAYER… THIS IS STUPID AND THOSE AGAINST HER … ARE AFRAID SHE WILL SOON ONE DAY TAKE THEIR JOB… DONT HOLD HER BACK.. LET THIS MOTHER SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Seems like County Judge Lacy should be the one going before the grand jury, for attempting to circumvent Texas’s Open Government Act. He might want to draw down… I have half a mind to walk across town and stick my nose in this. There is video evidence of a possible crime by Judge Lacy.
I would assume your are talking about when he says his reasons for saying the pledge and prayer before calling to order is to keep them out of the minutes. Yes, I cought that too. Intentially doing something to circumvent the Texas Open Meetings Act is a criminal offense.
I first heard this story on Fox News this morning and became outrage over this story. I cannot believe a judge who has sworn in to protect the people of Texas would think of putting this woman in jail. What is going on in this COUNTRY!!! In Florida a woman is set free for killing her child, but in Texas, let’s put a woman in jail for standing up for the RIGHTS of the people!!!!. Judge Sterling Lacy is an educated fool without any common sense, and has no business being a judge because obviously he doesn’t know what it means about Separation of Church and State but not a separation from GOD that this country was founded on.
It appears the county commissioner’s are unaware of the Texas Penal Code Sec. 37.10. TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENTAL RECORD. (a) A person commits an offense if he:
(1) knowingly makes a false entry in, or false alteration of, a governmental record;
(2) makes, presents, or uses any record, document, or thing with knowledge of its falsity and with intent that it be taken as a genuine governmental record;
(5) makes, presents, or uses a governmental record with knowledge of its falsity;
The punishment is a state jail felony if it’s shown the intent was to defraud or harm another. Their attempt to have her change the minutes to reflect something that’s not true is plain stupid. That’s what happens when the uneducated types are elected to office.
The alleged charge of disruption of a public meeting is as bogus as the day is long. She’s an elected official. She has a statutory duty to attend commissioner’s court meetings. She has a duty to speak up. No jury would convict based on the facts as reported in this case. It would appear the county judge doesn’t like women in authority.
I suggest you pay attention, and I wouldn’t blink an eye while you read this.
Your county is about to spend a ton of money trying to determine who’s duty it is to record, change, amend, attest and whatever word you can think of, with regard to the commissioners court minutes. Your law firm may win at the local level since this is the second contract the county is paying them for, but when it goes to the higher courts, and it will, you will surely lose and then bare the burden of explaining to the tax payers why so much of their money was flushed down the toilet.
Clink on this link, and read it through and through: http://www.texasclerks.org/assoc/export/sites/texasclerks/downloads/RG_Chapter8_12.09.pdf
Let me give you some tidbits to look at. Page 288, Diane Wilson clearly states that the clerk is in charge of the minutes and nobody else. She goes on to tell you that it is only by “tradition” that commissioner’s court goes through the approval process. She advises that the clerk not change the minutes to suit anyone. Clerk Wilson has been a County Clerk for over 28 years and is one of the states most recognized legislative authorities. http://diannewilsoncountyclerk.com/html/about.html
Next pay attention to page 296. In Joyce Hudman’s minutes, she includes the County Clerk as a member of the commissioners court. An Ex Officio is a member of the court, just with different duties. She is a veteran clerk and Vice President of the County and District Clerks Association of Texas. Don’t miss interpret the AG’s opinion for more than it really is. There is a distinction between a member and Ex Officio member and the AG’s opinion does not seperate the two, because it was not requested.
When your county spends thousands and thousands of your dollars and this ends up in the Appellate court, who do you think the court will side with? A count government that employees a bunch of old time commissioners who have not paid attention to the laws, continously hold emergency sessions without actual emergencies identified by law, a Sherriff who recomended a case to the Grand Jury in which he was a first hand witness to a supposed “crime” in which he failed to act, a new judge and two commissioners who actually thought it was a good idea to hide the Pledge and Prayer from records (and altered the records), and chose to waste tax dollars on a double-dipping law firm instead of getting an AG’s opinion that would not cost the tax payer a dime? Or, plain and simply put, the experts who have been fighting this battle for years, and winning? Ask yourself this question, who will shoulder the blame of all the unnecessary spending that the tax payers will have to cover, come election time? They ones who thought it would be a good idea to do it!