Posted on 05/18/2005 3:04:52 PM PDT by LouAvul
The federal judge whose family was murdered asked the Senate on Wednesday to condemn "gratuitous attacks on the judiciary" by commentators such as evangelist Pat Robertson and members of Congress such as Tom DeLay, saying their words could spark more violence.
"Fostering disrespect for judges can only encourage those that are on the edge, or on the fringe, to exact revenge on a judge who displeases them," U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Not only was her family murdered, but Lefkow said she faces public harassment, reports CBS' Mike Parker.
"As recently as last Friday, which was May 13, I was spotted and harassed in a restaurant in downtown Chicago," Lefkow said. "Had that harasser come back rather than left a nasty sign and had a gun, then obviously I wouldn't be here today."
In her prepared remarks for today's hearing, she also urged Congress to "publicly and persistently repudiate" harsh remarks about the judiciary that occurred after the Terri Schiavo case. For example, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said of the Schiavo case, "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."
Her husband and mother were slain in the couple's Chicago home in February. Bart Ross, a 57-year-old unemployed electrician from Chicago, committed suicide in suburban Milwaukee in March after leaving a note confessing to the murders. He had been angered when Lefkow dismissed a malpractice suit he had filed, authorities said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I a deeply saddened by her loss, but conservatives condemning the way liberals are forfeiting America and the actions of the above murderer are not related.
She's using her personal tragedy to exploit the right.
" She's using her personal tragedy to exploit the right."
Not exploit, not prosecute, but PERSECUTE.
I wonder if she's on record about Newsweekgate?
I know Joan Lefkow personally, have the utmost respect for her as a person, and am saddened by her loss. However, her husband and mother were killed by a nutcase who lost a decision in her court. The tragedy that happened to her has absolutely nothing to do with respect for the judiciary. The only way to prevent this sort of thing is to make sure that nobody ever loses a lawsuit, which is unlikely, to say the least.
Spot on. Classic left propaganda. Yes, her family was murdered, but not by the vast right wing conspiracy. Element of truth, serving as a jumping off point for her non-factual propaganda statement presented as truth.
The judical system no longer serves as a justice system and needs "adjustment."
Shut up, Joan.
I don't have respect for her as a person, after she has said such evil things.
Not only is she using this to condemm the right, she is comparing her situation, tragic that it is, to ''her personal 9-11''
Because 4 judges have been killed since 1978 she feels that the Federal government should pay for and install security equipment in the homes of all judges both active and in retirement.
Judges disrespect themselves and the bench with their activist rulings.
to even hint that murderous actions are somehow related to criticism of activist judges is damn irresponsible.
Why doesn't she direct this statement at the Democrat Senators instead of Pat Robertson?
They are doing more to foster an atmosphere of disrespect for judges by their words and actions than anything Pat Robertson has said. Sheesh. Open your eyes woman.
Judges are no different than the rest of us regarding respect or disrespect. Of late, the left leaning, lawless-lawmaking making judges deserve no respect. They deserve to be removed. I'm sorry for her loss but this liberal hag has no business being on the bench.
<"gratuitous attacks on the judiciary" by commentators such as evangelist Pat Robertson and members of Congress such as Tom DeLay>
Now the Judges want to "regulate" free speech.
she should tell it to newsreek
The very fact that a federal judge is championing laws against those speaking out against the activism of the judiciary raises questions about her mental fitness for such a position.
She's obviously biased in favor of a judiciary that has no oversight, no checks or balance against it, and has no compunction against running roughshod over American society with impunity.
I'm sure there are, or soon will be, cases coming before her that any competent lawyer would ask her to recuse herself from in light of her expressed prejudices.
Here in IL she's generally respected by both sides. She's never been known to be an activist Judge.
I really wish I had an explanation for you, but I don't. I haven't been in the Chicago legal loop (no pun intended) for a few years, but I found Judge Lefkow to be an honest and fair judge from the time she was a magistrate, and a kind and generous person without fail. The sadness I feel for her personal tragedy is compounded when I see what she is saying now.
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