Breath-taking constitutional ignorance.

Martinez, Roberto

I read your recent article about O'Neal Dozier, the member of the Broward Judicial Nomination Commission who persists in questioning judgeship candidates about their religious beliefs and affiliations ("Onward, Christian Soldiers," January 2004 Church & State). Someone should remind this gentleman that the Constitution specifically bars religious qualifications for public office. Article VI states that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

With regard to Dozier's disagreement with the Supreme Court's decision overturning sodomy statutes, Article VI further provides that that decision is "the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding."

No one who displays such breathtaking constitutional ignorance--and such a pattern of bigotry--has any place on a judicial selection panel.

--Roberto Martinez

Alexandria, Va.