WP: GOP Seeks More Curbs On Courts

[Pirate Smile]

GOP Seeks More Curbs On Courts
Sensenbrenner Proposes An Inspector General

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 12, 2005; Page A03

With conservative anger at the judiciary peaking, House Republican leaders plan to use budgetary, oversight and disciplinary authority to assert greater control over the federal courts before next year's elections.

The legislative challenge to the courts reflects longtime conservative suspicion of the courts and displeasure over the courts' refusal to restore a feeding tube to Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Floridian who died March 31. A review was ordered by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), who complained about an "arrogant, out-of-control, unaccountable judiciary."

Although DeLay made the issue a party signature, House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) has quietly been pursuing a court-oversight agenda for years, mostly overlooked except for a few high-profile speeches he has given. Sensenbrenner said in an interview that his efforts would not be punitive and would be aimed at making the judicial branch stronger, not at retribution.

-snip-
Sensenbrenner also vowed to pursue a longtime Republican effort to split up the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which is based in San Francisco and is considered to be one of the most liberal circuits in the country. Conservatives were infuriated when the court ruled in 2002 that the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional because it describes the United States as "one nation under God."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101773.html

[neverforget]

1. They are evil, powermad people. I loathe them.

:grr:

[grytpype]

2. The judiciary is in a position to say "fuck you" to all this.

They are powerful and are not going to give up their power easily.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. They are messing with the system itself --

I hope we can weather this storm.

[Democat]

4. Judges need to fight back now, while they still can

Once Democrats allow Republicans to pack the courts with right wing politicians, it will be too late for the judicial branch to fight back. Now is the time for judges to stand up and make a huge issue of this. The Republicans are trying to undermine the foundation of the United States.

This is what elected Democrats get as a reward for kissing right wing ass for the last few years. :(

[Erika]

5. If the GOP places us under theocratic judges, it will be the

end of this country. The right wingers better look long and hard before they do this. They might make the dissentors of the 60's look like pacificists.

[Singular73]

6. Oh please, its all preety simple..this isn't "anger against the judiciary"

When you plan to push an unconstitutional agenda into legislation, you have to take out your only enemy -- the judiciary.

This isn't about anything but that.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. And where exactlly is the American Bar Association on this issue?

And the American Judges' Association? Why aren't they on public record with strong language?
http://aja.ncsc.dni.us/

[dbt]

8. The Supreme Irony!

Only nine votes actually counted in the Supposed Election of 2000 and five of them installed bu$hler in the White House. How is that not enough for the Grab Oil Party?

[rodeodance]

9. GOP Seeks More Curbs On Courts (Sensenbrenner AGAIN).. he is the

"real ID" man!!!



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101773.html?referrer=email

GOP Seeks More Curbs On Courts

Sensenbrenner Proposes An Inspector General

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 12, 2005; A03

With conservative anger at the judiciary peaking, House Republican leaders plan to use budgetary, oversight and disciplinary authority to assert greater control over the federal courts before next year's elections.

............

Although DeLay made the issue a party signature, House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) has quietly been pursuing a court-oversight agenda for years, mostly overlooked except for a few high-profile speeches he has given. Sensenbrenner said in an interview that his efforts would not be punitive and would be aimed at making the judicial branch stronger, not at retribution.

"In the early days of the Republic, the precedent was set that judges are not impeached for unpopular decisions," he said.

Sensenbrenner, 61, who has a degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, suggested in a speech at Stanford University this week that Congress should create an inspector general for the courts to field complaints and conduct investigations.

.....The Constitution specifies that Congress will set the jurisdiction and budgets of the courts, and Republican lawmakers began agitating to exercise that power after Schiavo's death. DeLay drew wide attention to the issue by declaring that the judges involved in that case would have to "answer for their behavior." As a guide to his views on the subject, DeLay has been urging reporters to read "Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America," by Mark R. Levin.........

[sinkingfeeling]

10. How did Wisconsin, that I used to consider a wonderful state, elect

this Nazi?

[ewagner]

11. Wisconsinites: lets beat this guy!

I hope we've got a good candidate.....I'm in for this one!

[truebrit71]

12. Does this f**king rocket scientist even KNOW about the separation of power

..that was set up by the Founding Fathers.

There's a frickin' reason the judicary is supposed to be 'independent'....to stop morans like this...

:eyes:

[drduffy]

13. Many on this list

seem to not get it. Some do. As the repugs put in place their plans regarding the judiciary and other issues (for example, national ID, expanded Patriot Act ....ad nauseum) the US WILL become more and more fascist and we WILL be controlled more and more. And there will be little we can do about it after a certain portion of the changes are in place. What ever is going to be done about this must happen soon and involve all liberals/progressives across the country. Most of whom are still mincing about and thinkin that it's not so serious as all that....or we have time yet to do something.....or surely, the republicans don't want to damage america....
Get real folks. They want absolute, continued control of this country. And they want to control or eliminate YOU if you 'don't get with the agenda'.

[Roland99]

14. A judicial review board or something isn't all that bad....BUT...

This comment from Dershowitz unveils what this is really all about:

A variety of legal scholars said the Republican blueprint looks overtly political. Harvard law professor Alan M. Dershowitz said he does not necessarily disagree with the proposals, but he noted that the scandal-scarred Republican leaders "are the wrong people and this is the wrong political context in which to make changes to improve the judiciary."

"You can't take them seriously, considering their source and timing," he said.