Your Opinion: Unnecessary law introduced

Dear Editor:

Last week, Rep. Paul Curtman introduced House Bill 708. Supposedly, the purpose of this bill is to ban Missouri judges from applying foreign laws in Missouri courts. As Curtman made clear in the accompanying press conference, by foreign laws, he really means Sharia. Curtman's remarks suggest a bias against Muslims. After all, he did not voice concern over judges applying any other type of foreign law.

This bill is a waste of time. The bill simply restates a fundamental legal principle. Passing a bill to remind Missouri judges that U.S. law trumps foreign law insults Missouri judges. Moreover, there is no evidence that Missouri judges apply foreign laws. At the same press conference, Curtman admitted that to his knowledge, no Missouri judge had based a decision on foreign law.

Curtman also stated that, "A good leadership trait is to act in a manner that is preventative," implying that foreign laws will soon usurp U.S. law in Missouri courts. This is simply not a credible concern. Preventative action is only a good trait when there is a legitimate concern to prevent.

The real purpose of this bill was to allow Curtman and House Speaker Stephen Tilley to schedule a press conference and shamelessly appeal to voters through false pretenses. To presume that it is necessary to pass legislation banning Missouri judges from applying foreign laws (read Sharia) is absurd. Rather than passing needless legislation, Curtman and Tilley should direct their attention to the many legitimate concerns that their constituents face.