Tallahassee pastor to Rep. Dunn: Blocking Hatchett's name on Leon Courthouse ‘unconscionable’

The Rev. R.B. Holmes chastised Congressman Neal Dunn, R-Panama City, in a letter Friday about Dunn’s no vote last month on a proposal to name the federal courthouse in Tallahassee after the late judge Joseph Hatchett.

Dunn teamed up with Republican members to block a bipartisan effort led by Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to honor the trailblazing Black jurist.

The headline: GOP blocks effort to name Tallahassee federal courthouse after trailblazing Black judge

Commentary: Judge Hatchett deserved better than this | Bill Cotterell

In-Depth analysis: 1990s Duval County school prayer case part of Florida courthouse naming controversy

Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, introduced the proposal to designate the courthouse along Adams Street the “Joseph Woodrow Hatchett U.S. Courthouse Federal Building.”

“Your decision was unconscionable, appalling and wrong,” wrote Holmes in a letter he copied to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Lawson, and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

“I believe your vote was driven by politics,” wrote Holmes. “Unfortunately, you put politics over principle and lies over truth.”

Dunn did not immediately respond to a Tallahassee Democrat request for comment about Holmes’ remarks.

Hatchett was the first African American to serve on Florida’s Supreme Court and the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The news obituary: 'We lost a giant': First Black judge on Florida Supreme Court dies in Tallahassee

Although a House co-sponsor, Dunn, a three-term Panama City Republican, deserted the effort and joined with 186 House Republicans – and one Democrat – to deny Hatchett the honor of a federal courthouse named in his memory.

The bill fell 45 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed.

Dunn joined the opposition after Congressman Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., highlighted a 1999 opinion by Hatchett that prohibited prayer at public school graduations and has not responded to requests to explain the decision.

After the vote, Lawson lashed out at the last minute maneuvering against the Hatchett bill.

"To witness, on the House floor, Republican vote changes (against) the bill during the final seconds of roll call was abhorrent," Lawson said.

Lawson and Dunn both represent Tallahassee in Congress now, but the two veteran lawmakers could face each other in November – a new congressional district map eliminates Lawson’s seat and place both in the same district.

More: Al Lawson responds after DeSantis upends district: 'My plan right now is to be on the ballot'

Holmes makes note of the new map in his missive to Dunn and observes if it survives a court challenge then Dunn would be in a district that includes all of Leon and Gadsden counties, “which both have a significant number of Black voters."

Holmes, who served as Hatchett’s pastor for more than 35 years, told Dunn he had voted for him, and writes with a heavy heart to ask him to repent.

“I am asking you to reconsider your vote. I am also asking you that you lead the effort for a 'do-over' and rename the Florida Supreme Court building in Tallahassee after this great man,” wrote Holmes.

Hatchett died last April. In the days after his death, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half staff and he lied in state in the Florida Capitol on May 6. He was 88.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee

The complete letter (edited April 29)

Honorable Neal Patrick Dunn, MD

United States House of Representatives

Florida's 2nd Congressional District

Dear Congressman Dunn:

Congressman, I write this letter with a heavy heart. Many Floridians and I are troubled by the partisan and divisive politics and policies that are destroying our great democracy, state and country. I sincerely, hopefully and prayerfully ask you to help bring us together.

Sir, you recently voted against renaming the United States federal court building in Tallahassee after the late Honorable Justice Joseph Hatchett. Your decision was unconscionable, appalling, and wrong. Let me inform you that I served as Judge Hatchett’s pastor for over thirty-five years. He was an active and faithful member of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida.

I eulogized Justice Hatchett on May 8, 2021, at the Bethel Church. Justice Hatchett was a man of great faith, temperament, prayer and high moral standards. As you very well know, he was the first African American to serve on Florida’s Supreme Court and the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Justice Hatchett served honorably as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He was a role model for many individuals and a graduate of two of the most prestigious historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in this country: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Howard University.

Sir, because of Judge Hatchett’s unprecedented achievements and accomplishments, Congressman Al Lawson wanted to sustain his legacy by renaming the United States federal court building in his honor. What is so remarkable is that both Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott supported this effort in the United States Senate. As you know, the entire United States Senate passed the bill unanimously. This stellar effort was moving forward until it was ambushed in the United States House of Representatives.

Congressman, you joined forces with a few of your republican colleagues to kill the effort of renaming the United States Courthouse after Judge Hatchett on the weak political premise that Judge Hatchett voted against the right to pray. I am not going to delve in this matter at this time, but you know the facts. I just simply want to say that I believe your vote was driven by politics. Congressman, unfortunately, you put politics over principle and lies over the truth.

I am asking you to reconsider your vote. I am also asking that you lead the effort for a “do over” and rename the United States federal court building in Tallahassee after this great man. Congressman Dunn, you are my congressional representative. I voted for you. You have worshipped with the good people of Bethel. In fact, the Sunday that you visited Bethel, Justice Hatchett was in attendance. We know that the Governor’s redistricting map has been approved by the Republican led Florida legislature.

I pray and hope that the courts will find the Governor’s map unconstitutional; however, if the courts uphold the Governor’s map, then you will be the congressman for all citizens of Leon County and Gadsden County, which both have a significant number of black voters.

Finally, please do the right thing for most of the citizens in your district and lead the effort in renaming the United States federal court building after Justice Hatchett. I believe you are a good Christian man. Congressman, please don’t let partisan politics and the divisive times in which we live blind you from doing what is morally right. May God bless you with wisdom and good health.

Yours truly,

Reverend Dr. RB Holmes,

Pastor Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Tallahassee,

Florida

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee pastor calls on Neal Dunn to reconsider vote against Judge Hatchett naming