Florida Bar Association Attacks Rabbi for supporting Dutch MP Geert Wilders

The Florida version of American Law for American Courts (ALAC) SB 386 passed the second hurdle  today, on a partisan vote of 6 Republicans  versus 3 Democrats.  The Democrat opponents included  Sen. Jeremy Ring, the Chairman of the State Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability (GO&A)Committee.

It was left to GO&A Deputy Chairman Sen. Alan Hays to advance the legislation to passage at today’s hearing.

We join with other Floridians in commending Sen. Hays for his valued support of SB 386: “acceptance  of foreign laws in certain cases”.  His tenacity, perseverance and collegiality in working with the proponents and his adroit understanding of the politicking involved has made a demonstrable difference endeavoring to pass the Florida version of ALAC s in its fourth try.

Having watched the video of today’s Florida Senate GO&A  hearing and partisan vote we have provided you with  the URL link to the Hearing video below. Please watch beginning at time mark 60 mins through  81 mins.

http://www.flsenate.gov/media/videoplayer?EventID=2443575804_2014041060

The bulk of the hearing discussion  was comprised of  the introduction by  Republican  Committee  member  Sen. David  Simmons of an amendment that seeks to codify, in his parlance, judge made law. He considers that  superior to SB 386 in that  the amendment seeks to perfect a compromise with critics of the bill.  After presentation  of  Simmons’ amendment, it was withdraw enabling a vote on SB 386 as proposed.

Sen. Hays endeavored to show our video interview with Rabbi Hausman to the Committee.  At the request of Committee Chair Ring,  Sen. Hays  presented  Rabbi Jonathan Hausman’s professional bona fides to comment on Israeli family law recognition of rabbinic decrees. Hays focused on the Rabbi’s  multifaceted qualifications as an ordained  pulpit rabbi,  Member of the Bars of  Pennsylvania and Connecticut and extensive  knowledge of both Jewish Halacha and Islamic Sharia.

In the presentation by the Florida Bar International Law section we noted the ad hominem attack against Rabbi Hausman for being an ally of a Dutch Member of  Hague Parliament, Geert Wilders and leader of the Freedom Party. Further, this  line of attack  was taken up  by GO&A Chair Senator Jeremy Ring (D-FL District 29) about the lack of Family Law testimony from that section of the Florida bar association. It was also reflected in the comments of the Emerge USA Muslim group representative  complaining  about the bill not being heard by Senate Child and Family dominated by Senators concerned about alleged denial of Israeli divorces. That clearly is the misinformed argument promoted by the ADL in a mass email campaign to the Florida Jewish community just prior to today’s hearing.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce  Representative argued that SB 386  was complicated impacting on international transactions and small business owners. We suspect that the ADL, Florida Family and International Law sections of the state bar association, Emerge USA Muslim advocacy group and Sen. Simmons will put in their final strokes at the next stop, the Senate Rules Committee.

So far on the family law matters we have yet to see  introduced the video evidence by either or both Professor Margaret McClain and especially Floridian Yasmeen A. Davis. Ms. Davis  was rescued by her family  from an abduction and removal to Saudi Arabia by her father in violation  of state, federal and international law against parental abductions. This is graphic testimony of the war on women under Sharia.

Perhaps given today’s  successful vote on SB 386, there might be movement in the Florida House on the companion measure, HB903 that passed on the Subcommittee on Civil Justice on  March 18^th. The subcommittee is  Chaired by District 32 Rep. Larry Metz who is one of ALAC’s  most knowledgeable proponents. He sponsored the legislation in the 2013 legislative session in Tallahassee.  One indication of that came in a meeting that occurred at a recent dinner of the Allen West Foundation in Palm Beach, Florida.

District 2  Florida House Representative, Warren Bryan “Mike” Hill and Rabbi Hausman were featured speakers at the event. Rep. Hill when he learned of Rabbi Hausman’s involvement in the pending Florida ALAC legislation  said he voted for the measure at the House Subcommittee hearing and would vote for it when it reached the Florida House floor. It appears likely that the House version may be heard shortly in the full Judiciary Committee where Rep. Metz may play a key role in arguing for passage.

As baseball great and master of malapropisms, Yogi Berra might opine, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”.  Nevertheless, today’s  Senate GO&A passage may indicate that the momentum could be building up a head of steam for ultimate passage in the 2014 Legislature Session in Tallahassee.

EDITORS NOTE:

The Florida Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee approved American Laws for American Courts legislation which would prohibit Sharia and other foreign laws during the committee’s April 3, 2014 meeting. The committee voted 6 to 3 in favor of SB 386 titled Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases during their Wednesday, April 3, 2014 9:00 am – 10:30 am meeting:

Chair:
Senator Jeremy Ring (D)                    No
Vice Chair:
Senator Alan Hays (R)                         Yes

Senator Aaron Bean (R)                      Yes
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R)    Yes
Senator Rob Bradley (R)                    Yes
Senator Dorothy L. Hukill (R)         Yes
Senator Bill Montford (D)                  No
Senator David Simmons (R)              Yes
Senator Christopher L. Smith (D)    No

EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared on The New English Review.