Mob Rule: The Scott Roeder Defense

Update: A jury found Scott Roeder guilty of First Degree Murder. The rule of law prevails.

I was one of Dr. Tiller’s attorneys as was my father and my sister. The day Dr. Tiller was found not guilty was one of the scariest days of my life. Until the day he was shot and killed. On both days I feared for the lives of my loved ones and myself because I knew “they” would not follow the rule of law. “They” would only follow one law: mob rule.

“They” turned out to be Scott Roeder. He is the man who admits to shooting and killing Dr. George Tiller, and he took the stand today in his murder trial. According to Ron Sylvester, Wichita Eagle reporter, Defense Attorney Mark Rudy said of Roeder’s take on Dr. Tiller’s trial, “Scott thought finally someone is going to hold Dr. Tiller accountable to the law.”

What law? The law of the United States? Kansas? The law in Roeder’s own head? Dr. Tiller, whether you agree with it or not, was practicing a lawful, legal, constitutionally protected service. When Dr. Tiller was put on trial in early 2009 for allegedly violating the laws of Kansas a jury of his peers heard the evidence and found him not guilty. This finding was enough to send Roeder over the edge. Roeder determined, according to his own testimony today, in the late 90’s that the killing of abortion providers was justified. He apparently decided to wait, however and put his trust in the judicial system. It was when this judicial system violated his own moral code that he took matters into his own hands and committed the very sin he accused Dr. Tiller of perpetrating, taking a life. Roeder no longer wanted to follow the laws that man had given him. His own law become rule.

This is what is at the very heart of a violent anti-abortion movement that counts conservative anchors as it’s cheerleaders. They believe with all their heart the notion that their interpretation of the constitution, their moral code, should be placed above what the rest of the country and the courts have decided is the law. Where does it end? Scott Roeder claims to be a Christian. Perhaps if he had followed that rule of law Dr. Tiller would be with us today.