True Justice

 

Botham Jean, +2018

A Caucasian police officer without a warrant barged into a black man’s apartment and screamed for him to put up his hands. The officer, unsatisfied with the cooperation of the occupant, immediately shot him. Botham Jean, the 26-year old occupant, died at the scene.

These are the simple facts of a trial that ended in Dallas, Texas last week. The incident happened just over a year ago on September 6, 2018. The officer’s name was Amber Guyger. The trial that began on September 23 was supposed to last two weeks. On October 1, 2019 she was convicted of murder and sentenced to ten years in the Texas state penitentiary.

Dallas, TX July 7, 2016

In Dallas tensions run high between the Black Lives Matter movement and the law-enforcement community. In July 2016, at a protest against two officer-involved shootings, a sniper ambushed Dallas police. Twelve officers were shot and five died. That event still poisons the racial atmosphere in Dallas.

Guyger’s actions on that terrible Thursday ripped the scab from a recent wound. It has unleashed numerous accusations of a police cover-up. Even though she called 911 immediately and confessed to the crime, many questions have been raised.

According to Guyger, the only surviving eyewitness, she was exhausted and bleary-eyed from long hours. When she got into the elevator, she pushed the wrong button and was let out on the floor below her own apartment. Shuffling through an identical floor-plan she was alarmed to find someone in “her” apartment. Assuming him to be a burglar, she frantically unholstered her service weapon and shot the unarmed and innocent man.

The victim’s family and their supporters have openly questioned her version of events. They point out that her story is inconsistent on the question of whether the door was locked. They wonder why it took three days before she was taken into custody and how she was out on a $300,000 bond within hours. They question why the Dallas Police Department kept Guyger on administrative leave for 18 days before they fired her.

Botham Jean's family press conference

Jean’s family also cried foul when a toxicology report was released to the public noting a trace of marijuana in Jean’s apartment. The 911 recording was another bone of contention. In it the operator seemed not to ask about the medical status of the victim. Accusations were levelled that the operator was more concerned with the emotional state of the officer than with administering first aid to Jean.

These, and numerous other criticisms have continued to keep tensions simmering as the slow wheels of justice turned toward last week’s trial. Even the jury’s guilty verdict and a ten-year prison sentence were not enough to satisfy demands for justice. An angry crowd protested outside the courthouse demanding the longest sentence possible.

In addition to the raw emotions of Jean’s family, numerous activists and special interest groups are also using this tragedy to spotlight various causes. We have already mentioned Black Lives Matter. Libertarian activists also want police brutality punished. Gun-rights groups have used the killing as reason for law-abiding citizens, to defend themselves against aggressive cops. Criminal justice groups want to highlight sentencing disparities between law-enforcement officers and the common citizen.

In the middle of this toxic stew, it seems hopeless that we can ever find a just and satisfying outcome to the senseless murder of Botham Jean. On a larger scale, every murder, every assault, every injustice exposes the same conundrum. There will never, ever be a way to hand out justice in a way that satisfies all interested parties.

Nevertheless, what raw justice cannot accomplish God’s mercy can. It begins with repentance. Amber Guyger was horrified by her actions from the moment she pulled the trigger. On the 911 call, immediately after the shooting, she is heard talking to Jean saying, “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Amber Guyger testifies

During the months leading to the trial, she made no public statements. Then, on September 27 she finally had the opportunity to take the witness stand and speak. Through tears she fought to compose herself just enough to be heard. In words that squeaked out barely above a whisper, she told the court, “I ask God for forgiveness and I hate myself every single day.” Her body language testified to the sincerity of her words.

Still, all the sincere repentance in the world cannot bring Jean back to life or undo the terrible wrong. Nor can it substitute for a just punishment. Her attorney acknowledged this in his final statement before sentencing. There was no question that jail time was necessary. But an eternity in prison still would not match the crime.

It was the victim’s younger brother, Brandt, who provided the breakthrough. When he took the stand to give his victim impact statement he said, “I wasn’t ever going to say this in front of my family, or anyone. But… I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you. Because I know that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do. And the best would be to give your life to Christ. I love you as a person. I don’t wish anything bad on you.” Then, as if the courtroom was not stunned enough, he turned to the judge and said, “I don’t know if this is possible but, can I give her a hug?”

Physical contact between witnesses and the accused is a major breach of security. It just doesn’t happen. The bailiffs were baffled. All eyes turned to the judge and to her reaction to this unprecedented request. She recognized that something otherworldly was taking place and granted the request.

Brandt stepped out of the witness stand and walked toward Amber. Amber did not walk. She ran toward her victim’s brother. They clung to each other through tears and wailing of sorrow mingled with joy. It is impossible to watch without being caught up in the emotion of the moment. If you want a dose of hope in this hopeless world, I encourage you to find that video and view it for yourself.

The full and free forgiveness that Brandt offered to Amber affected everyone in the courtroom--most of all the judge herself. She was not finished with her surprises. Unceremoniously, she left the bench and went to hug and comfort Botham’s family. Then, she approached the convicted murderer herself and whispered something inaudible in her ear.

Turning, Judge Tammy Kemp left the courtroom and entered her chambers only to emerge moments later carrying a well-worn Bible. This she presented to Amber explaining that she uses it every day but now wants Amber to have it. She thumbed through the pages looking for a specific spot. Then she gave the open Bible to Amber with instructions issued in the voice of judicial compassion and wisdom: “This is your job for the next month. Right here, John 3:16.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is the answer for a world gridlocked in guilt, hopelessly and irreversibly sunk in inexcusable crimes. No worldly justice can help. True justice is served from the cross of Christ.

Post Script:

On the day following these extraordinary events, the Freedom from Religious Foundation (FFRF) filed a three-page ethics complaint against Judge Tammy Kemp. The alleged that "these proselytizing actions overstepped judicial authority, were in appropriate and were unconstitutional."

As can be clearly seen on the video of the event, Judge Kemp made it clear that she was not acting in her judicial authority. She left the bench and did not call for the court to rise either at her exit or at her reentrance. Regarding the second and third allegations, her actions were the most appropriate actions that anyone could take and they were certainly not unconstitutional.

The American people have been assaulted by the ACLU, Madelyn Murray O'Hare and the FFRF for decades. They have conspired to frighten the elected and appointed people in government office into leaving their humanity behind. Make no mistake, calls to excise one's religion from official thoughts, words and deeds is nothing less than the dehumanizing of our government. It is time that the American people stood up and said so.

On the positive side, the FFRF letter serves the good of further publicizing what Judge Kemp allegedly said to Ms. Guyger. If true, they are worth republishing here:

Handing her the Bible, she said,

"You can have [my Bible]. I have three or four more at home. This is the one I use every day. [inaudible] This is your job for the next month. You read right here: John 3:16. And this is where you start, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever…’ You stop at ‘whosoever’ and say, ‘Amber, [inaudible] You start with the Gospels. Then [inaudible]. You read this whole book of John. [inaudible] [inaudible, but likely where judge said: This will strengthen you. You just need a tiny mustard seed of faith. You start with this.] This has been put in front of you for a reason. [inaudible] He has a purpose for you. There is no reason why [inaudible]."

Then Judge Kemp hugged her and said, “It’s not because I’m good. It’s because I believe in Christ. I’m not so good. You haven’t done as much as you think you have, and you can be forgiven. You did something bad in one moment in time. What you do now matters."

The growing unrest and seething anger in our society is the result of a decades-long attempt to drive such humanizing and reconciling words out of bounds. The reclaimation of our humanity not only permits, but requires the full and free forgiveness of sins spoken both from the Church and from every Christian in every place, time and circumstance.