Posted on 05/19/2005 11:17:07 AM PDT by cbkaty
May 18, 2005, 11:06PM
Words lead to violence, judge says
Woman whose family was slain urges Congress to bring an end to verbal attacks
By REBECCA CARROLL
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - A federal judge whose husband and mother were slain by a disgruntled litigant urged Congress Wednesday to help bring an end to "truly dangerous" verbal attacks on judges that might lead to violent action.
Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow said one way lawmakers could protect judges would be to condemn judge-bashing remarks by commentators and colleagues.
"Fostering disrespect for judges can only encourage those that are on the edge, or on the fringe, to exact revenge," Lefkow told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"I understand that Congress cannot eradicate violence against judges ... " she said. "But as I replay in my mind the events that led to our tragedy, I believe that several things might have prevented it and could prevent it from happening to even one more of our judges."
Lefkow also called on Congress to increase funding for the U.S. Marshals Service, which protects judges.
Lefkow was appointed in 2000 to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by former President Clinton.
Several Republican members of Congress have lashed out at judges involved in the Terri Schiavo case and others. Schiavo, a brain-damaged Florida woman, died after her feeding tube was removed.
"This loss happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, had said. "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."
Who'd have thunk it?
I think we're better off with a free America and Judge Lefkow stepping down from the bench now that she appears to have lost her nerve completely.
It'd be for the best ~ maybe even for the children.
My goodness. The only judge bashing I've heard lately has been by the Dumbocrap Sinators lashing out at any judge who might hold an anti-abortion stance.
What's the penalty for sinators bashing judges?
thought police at it again
Wow. My sympathy for this individual is evaporating.
She probably hasn't heard of the 2nd Amendment either.
Start stocking up on tinfoil...
Actually, I think judicial activism leading to anti-majority interpretation of law leads to more violence.
Not saying Lefkow is guilty of this, but 1st amendments rights apply to everyone. Big Brother can kiss my behind.
Judicial tyranny leads to violence. Just wait and see.
I'm very sorry about what happened to her family, but I don't think that judges need to be any more elite than they already are. There is a great deal of unaccountable judicial tyranny in our country already; the last thing we need is to make it a crime to complain about it.
This is a typical clintonoid appointment.
Quite true.
Sorry about her family, but the guy who went on the rampage had no connections to Republicans whatsoever.
The body count:
People killed by liberal journalism: 17
People killed by conservatives criticizing judges: 0
Must mean that she killed her mother and husband. Time to shut her up FUR SHUR.
So, like the Dems calling the Republicans nazis and Bush Hitler is ok, huh?
One of the several "things" would be self defense? But that is what they have the Marshals for. It is very sad what happened to her family but her regard for the 1st Amendment shows her thoughts on the 2nd even after this tragedy. People like her are what the brady bunch look for. rant off.
I'm sorry for what happens to judges because of violence as much as I am sorry for innocent people who are victims of violence. However, judges are not a higher form of life here on earth and some may be responsible for escalating violence. I will criticize judges like I criticize politicians anytime I feel they need to be criticized.
And now this judge, who complained that people said negative things about the judge in the Terry Schiavo case, shouldn't be allowed to say things like that. Its a danger to society.
Heck, all there doing is legislating against anybody and anything that disagrees with them.
Yep, its starting to sound like communist China and Russia, and Nazi Germany.
And yesterday I read some guy in Canada was fined $17,500, because he expressed his views, backed by facts, against homosexuality. And 4 butt bumpers and carpet lickers had their feelings hurt.
It won't take much of a stretch to get us to where Canada is today.
And it won't take much to get Canada to where China is, and Nazi Germany was.
How long will it take, if this judge has her way for a new law, before we will be considered criminals just for expressing our discenting viewpoints on this forum?
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