Judge ARRESTED - Everyone fell for it, AGAIN!!

[kiri]

5. let us respect civil disobedience

What the judge did is an act of civil disobedience, just as in the civil rights era. Like churches providing sanctuary; like citizens hiding, protecting runaway slaves.

In civil disobedience we accept that we break the law--and suffer the consequences (believing in the rule of law)--but for a higher moral purpose, to shine attention on an injustice. to show the law is wrong-headed. And/or to force the powerful to confront a religio-societal hypocrisy.

There is an extensive literature on civil disobedience, the morality, the impact on social order, etc. Martin Luther King contributed greatly, and, indeed, Martin Luther himself.

Wilson in the OP ignores the special moral status of civil disobedience.

Also: think of whistle-blowers. Lawbreakers/criminals for the greater good.