Murder suspect: U.S. laws don't apply to me

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A Hillsborough County murder suspect, who made headlines last month for an outburst in court, says U.S. laws don't apply to him. 

Orin Bivens, who is free on bond, sat down with FOX 13 to explain his claims.  He says he is a "sovereign monarch." To him, that means U.S. laws and the rules of the court system do not apply. 

"I chose to change my name. I chose to deeply involve myself in my religion and that's pretty much all the explanation I need to give," said Bivens.

He is accused of killing his ex-wife's new husband back in June of 2015. Bivens argues that the judge assigned to his case doesn't understand who he is.

"If she does not uphold her oath of office then of course I have to take it to the next step," said Bivens.

The next step, he says, is taking his case to a higher court -- ultimately the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court.

Bivens believes  the justices would accept his sovereign standing. He is not the only person claiming sovereignty in the court system.

The Southern Poverty Law Center says cases like these clog up the court with complex, legal sounding arguments that are rejected every time. The center calls the argument "bizarre" and "nonsense."