City Asks Judge To Limit Religious Remarks By Lawyer

The city of Oxford, Mississippi is seeking an unusual order from a federal judge in an upcoming racial discrimination trial, according to today's Jackson, Mississippi, Clarion-Ledger. Oxford is being sued by a former employee of its water department who alleges that he was fired because a supervisor disapproved of his dating a white woman. The city wants an order against plaintiff's attorney prohibiting him from suggesting to the jury that their decision in the case should be made on the basis of religious belief. In the past, Tupelo attorney Jim Waide has, for example, told jurors to "do what Jesus would do". The city wants the court to order that Waide not be allowed to talk about religion, biblical authority and/or a deity in his opening or closing statements.