American People Are Tough On Activist Judges

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U.S. JUDICIARY / WHY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TOUGH ON ACTIVIST JUDGES

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One former Suprene Court Justice says "Yes!" Sandra Day O'Connor wrote an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal recently, complaining that the anger the American people have expressed towards our nation's judges is excessive and threatens the proper functioning of the judicial system. Specifically, Justice O'Connor writes" "the breadth and intensity of rage currently being leveled at the judiciary may be unmatched in American history -- using judges as punching bags presents a grave threat ti the independent judiciary."

Can any of you think of reasons why the American people might have a problem with some judges? I can think of more than a few.

From the Desk of Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton:

Are The American People Too Hard On Activist Judges?

One former Supreme Court Justice says "Yes!" Sandra Day O'Connor wrote an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal recently, complaining that the anger the American people have expressed towards our nation's judges is excessive and threatens the proper functioning of the judicial system. Specifically, Justice O'Connor writes: "the breadth and intensity of rage currently being leveled at the judiciary may be unmatched in American history -- using judges as punching bags presents a grave threat to the independent judiciary."

Can any of you think of reasons why the American people might have a problem with some judges? I can think of more than a few.

Just one month ago, Judicial Watch uncovered the fact that Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who ruled the government's anti-terrorism wiretapping program unconstitutional, had a potential conflict of interest she failed to disclose. (She served on the board of a foundation that gave money to the ACLU, the lead plaintiff in the suit challenging the eavesdropping program.)

Then, there are also instances where judges seem to take advantage of the system for their own personal gain. For example, Judicial Watch recently filed a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles which is paying judges cash benefits that are prohibited by state law. Overall, the county wastes $20 million each year in taxpayer funds. When people hear that judges are enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers, they ought to be upset.

And then there are the decisions -- the horrible instances of judicial activism where the U.S. Constitution is scrapped in favor of the personal whims of liberal judges (more often than not acting at the behest of the ultra-leftist ACLU.) Case in point: The ruling, since overturned, by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that school children cannot say the Pledge of Allegiance because it contains the phrase, "Under God." That is the type of judicial activist decision -- and there are many -- that undermines faith in the judiciary.

According to Judge William Pryor, who offered a rebuttal op-ed to the O'Connor piece, the American people have a right to express their distaste at such dreadful and damaging decisions. "The judiciary has rendered some unjust decisions that deserved harsh rebuke," he wrote. Judge Pryor continued, "Many who complain about criticisms of the judiciary concede that some criticism of judicial decisions is fair. That assessment is too mild. Occasionally criticism of judicial decisions is essential to the progress of our constitutional republic."

I couldn't agree more.

Thomas Fitton

President

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