Voters Moving to Oust Judges Over Decisions

New York Times ^ | September 24, 2010 | A.G. SULZBERGER

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

Just as a historical note, the Founders batted around different ways of selecting judges. Appointment by the legislature, election through a popular vote and appointment by the president with confirmation by the Senate.

Appointment by the legislature was rejected because the court was supposed to be a check on the legislature and the Founders were sure that they would be too sympathetic to the legislature. Popular election was rejected because it was argued, that the people were too far removed from the individuals and would not know who they were appointing. The president was chosen as the means of appointment because he was popularly elected like the legislature yet had a difference source, the electoral college. This was modified with a hush puppy to the small-staters through confirmation by the Senate.

[NonValueAdded]

Shove_it, is there a separate thread for this? If not would you post one so we can ping it out to Florida? Thanks!

[originalbuckeye]

I went to your link. Ironically, the name George Soros crops up a few paragraphs down. Turns out he sponsors a group ‘Justice at Stake’ (reminiscent of the Secretaries of State project) that advocates for ‘merit selection’ instead of judges standing for elections. This guy is the Pied Piper with all the ‘Rats’ following him into the Liberal ocean. I heard there is a lawsuit against Soros. Anyone else heard that?

[TheOldLady]

Hubby and I were living in Southern California at the time and remember it fondly.

From http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Rose_Bird:

"Bird was the first Chief Justice to be removed from that office by a majority of the state's voters. California Supreme Court justices are selected by the Governor but must be regularly reconfirmed by the electorate; prior to Bird, no California appellate judge had ever failed such a vote.

"She was removed in the November 4, 1986 election after a high-profile, highly partisan campaign that cited her categorical opposition to the death penalty."

Good riddance to bad trash.

[Jacquerie]

Thanks.

November is too close to affect FL voter opinion much regarding judicial retention. 2012 will be a different story. I am fired up by the efforts in other states to rein in an out of control judiciary. Our freedoms are in serious jeopardy as long as these tyrants feel free to foist their personal opinions and feelings on the people of FL.

[shove_it]

OK. I’ll check it out.

[CharacterCounts]

The merit selection system, which is used to pick supreme court justices in 16 states, including Colorado, Iowa and Kansas, was established to reduce politics’ influence on the composition of the judiciary

It really removed politics from the appointment of U.S. judges, hasn't it./sarc.

[Jacquerie]

I just emailed Rep Plakon and volunteered to help get rid of judicial tyrants in 2012.

I don't think these blackrobes really understand that they can be fired.

[Clintonfatigued]

This article is bulls**t. The voters want to oust the judges for abusing their power.

[Oatka]

Can any Iowa Freepers point me to resources so I can cast intelligent votes on them?

Most of us have the same problem in our home state. The best I have been able to figure out is to plug the person's name in a search engine (I use Dogpile.com as it scans ALL engines) and see what comes up. Sometimes it is only a few news articles but you may be able to glean which way that person leans.

It's time-consuming and a pin, I know, which is why many of these foul balls continue to retain their seats. Once the Gunowners Of America sent me a postcard about some judge who was a keeper. Keeper or Tosser, I wish the NRA and GOA would do that on a consistent basis - that's one contribution I would gladly support.

[Petruchio]

I have the same problem here in Illinois.

My current thinking is that if they are a sitting judge in Illinois they must be corrupt. Therefor I will vote NO across the board.

[Qbert]

“...“The system was not designed so that people could reject one vote or one case,” said Rachel P. Caufield, a Drake University professor who studies judicial selection. “It was designed so that people could get rid of unfit judges. It was meant as an extreme measure.” She added, “The system has worked well — until now.”

Translation: The Libs loved the system...until people finally woke up and realized what activist judges were really doing to them.

[GenXteacher]

“In Illinois, business interests are campaigning against the chief justice after a case that removed a cap on malpractice liability, prompting him to run a television ad that opens with the declaration, “I am not a politician.” “

If one wishes to legislate from the bench, then one most certainly is a politician, and should be treated as such.

[JPG]

Thanks for the heads-up. I will vote appropriately.

[chickadee]

I love people who follow my links:)

Thanks for pointing out another George Soros attack on liberty.

[JSDude1]

Since the Times conveniently leaves out the name of the organization that is sponsoring the removal of these Judges (it’s one tactic of the leftwing MSM) in Iowa I will post it for them:

Iowa For Freedom:

http://iowaforfreedom.com/

Please donate if you want to!

[Col Freeper]

I fondly remember the ousting in California long ago of Rose Bird (sp?). In a state court famous for being left of Lenin, she was a standout.

Yes, yes, I remember that arrogant "judge". I was biting at the bit back then to vote her out. She is probably still whining about "those wacko voters" to this day. LOL.

[truth_seeker]

“I fondly remember the ousting in California long ago of Rose Bird (sp?).”

Bird was an appointee of Jerry Brown.