Lawmaker Backs Federal Judiciary Watchdog

SFC ^ | May 9, 2005 | JESSE J. HOLLAND

[FairOpinion]

House Judiciary chairman James Sensenbrenner urged Congress on Monday to create a government watchdog for the federal judiciary, but he also said lawmakers should ignore conservative calls to weaken courts because of federal judges' decisions during the Terri Schiavo case.

The federal courts refused to order the reinsertion of Schiavo's feeding tube, and the brain-damaged Florida woman died March 31. That set off a firestorm of conservative criticism against the federal benches.

The House Judiciary Committee is looking into setting up an inspector general's office to work with the federal appeals and trial judges to see how they are handling the money Congress gives them, he said.

"Congress has the power of the purse to fund the Supreme Court and lower federal courts," Sensenbrenner said. "If the courts are not spending their resources judiciously, the American people through their representatives are entitled to corrective action."

He said setting up a watchdog over the federal courts won't affect their independence.

[FairOpinion]

The Imperial, tyrannical courts could certainly use some oversight and Congress has the power to do that.

[Loud Mime]

More government jobs for more bureaucrats. I say it's up to the people...let them volunteer.

[libertylover]

"If the courts are not spending their resources judiciously, the American people through their representatives are entitled to corrective action."

Yeah, create another committee to spend even more money and another avenue for the Democrat's abuse. This is idiotic! No one is complaining the courts are wasting money. They're wasting liberty by cow-towing to foreign courts instead of following the Constitution.