Speaking in the packed Rotunda of UNC's School of Law, Alan Keyes told his audience that "the guild of lawyers and judges constitute the pool from which the dictators of our society will be chosen."
With law students and guests looking on all the way from the upper balcony, the former senatorial and presidential candidate declared that the courts in America have overstepped their authority and need to be reined in.
"The people of this country ratified the Constitution," he said. "It was not approved on the arcane views of judges and lawyers."
Keyes argued that federal courts have fundamentally misconstrued their own power, particularly on the issue of religion. He spoke at length about the meaning of the First Amendment's "establishment clause," asserting that it prohibits the federal government from passing laws concerning religion but leaves individual states free to do so.
"Contrary to what seems to be the superficial understanding of our times, you don't avoid religious wars by trying to drive religion out of society," he said.
"I believe that the courts are waging war on the moral identity of the American people."
In a question-and-answer session after his address, Keyes offered his opinion on a range of other issues.
In fielding a question about same-sex marriage, Keyes argued that because homosexual relationships cannot produce children, they "have no inherent public consequence," and therefore no basis for what he termed "public regulation."
"Marriage isn't about rights," Keyes thundered, prompting applause. "The institution of marriage is about responsibilities and obligations."
