Terrorized Judge Talks Tough

cbs ^ | 5-18-05

[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.

[drypowder]

Until now, apparently.

[YOUGOTIT]

The act of violence committed against the family of this judge was deplorable. However, it the right of the American People to criticize their government and the judiciary is part of the government.

If one is not accountable to the people then we no longer have a government "of by and for the people".

Restricting the political speech of Americans is against all of the Constitution. The democrats make comments every day that make their left-wing fascist followers do violence to any main stream American who tries to speak out about the lefts bias and traitorous behavior.

Re the recent attacks on conservative speakers in universities around the country.

[ikka]

Same song second verse ... remember how Rush Limbaugh brainwashed Tim McVeigh and his Iraqi accomplices into blowing up the Murrah Building?

[teawithmisswilliams]

She's just lost my sympathy. The reason we little people hold activist judges in contempt is because they override our votes and manufacture a "constitutional right" to things like sodomy, unlimited abortion and "gay marriage."

How appalling to use the deaths of your husband and mother, which were wholly unrelated to any conservative group or issue, to berate those of us who are disgusted by our elitist judiciary.

[Domangart]

This would have happened with almost any judge this nut was before. I spent 20 years dealing with these people. It to this day still freaks me out the first time one of them came up to me when I was getting gas and said "Remember Me". They had better protect themselves first before they rely on others. Crooks expect to get off.

[keithtoo]

Judges are not royalty. The public can and should criticize them fociferously when they make boneheaded and usurpatious decisions.

What happened to her is sad. What she is advocating is adding to the error.

[presently no screen name]

PERFECT! and they don't want anyway speaking about it!
What arrogance.

[libstripper]

If anybody has ever proved she shouldn't be a judge, it's this ignorant, bigoted woman by her remarks. She, a judge sworn to uphold the First Amendment, is equating legitimate political and philosophical attacks on an overbearing, arrogant judiciary with deliberate murderous violence against judges and their families. It's conscionable. She should be impeached.

[BenLurkin]

It raises a question as to her "judicial temperment", IMO, not so much her 'mental fitness'.

[Xenalyte]

That's Tom talking, not Joan, yo.

[Rockingham]

Precisely. Honeyed words will not protect judges from the bullets of angry, crackpot litigants. A good 9 mm or pump shotgun are far better means of defense.

[Waco]

There's a poice chief on Long Island who was talking "good victimhood" recently. Were her parents good victims? Hs she checked in with the chief? Many judges would/will deny the victims right to defend themselves. The shoe fits judge!

[kcvl]

Un-fricken-believable. The nerve of this lady.

In other words, we should just shut up and take whatever they dish out.

[Americanexpat]

People criticize the President of the USA, politicians and bureaucrats everyday, all day long, what makes her think judges should be protected from criticism?

[Noachian]

It raises a question as to her "judicial temperment", IMO, not so much her 'mental fitness'.

In either case it does raise questions, and it's not hard to understand why the MSM is softpeddling her remarks.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

bump!