A complaint has been filed against the judge who presided over Amber Guyger’s trial. Judge Tammy Kemp sparked social media scrutiny when she was seen gifting Guyger a bible, hugging her and then praying with the former Dallas cop, after she received her 10-year sentence for the murder of Botham Jean.
According to CBS DFW, the Freedom of Religion Foundation, a nonprofit which says it works to defend the Constitutional separation of church and state, filed a complaint against Kemp taking issue with the judge gifting Guyger her bible following her sentencing.
The organization said that Kemp’s actions crossed the line into coercion with the bible.
“We write to raise your awareness of Judge Kemp’s actions at the close of the trial — during which she gifted a Christian bible, instructing the convicted criminal on how to read the bible and which passages to pay attention to, and witnessing to that convicted murderer,” the complaint read. “These proselytizing actions overstepped judicial authority, were inappropriate and were unconstitutional.”
However, the First Liberty Institute, a non-profit defending religious freedom is countering the complaint, noting “FFRF is protesting Judge Kemp rather than joining the rest of the nation celebrating the compassion and mercy Judge Kemp demonstrated. We should all be thankful the law allows Judge Kemp’s actions and we stand with her and will gladly lead the charge in defending her noble and legal actions.”