O'Connor worries about courts' autonomy

[Judi Lynn]

Nov. 4, 2006, 11:49PM
O'Connor worries about courts' autonomy

© 2006 The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said she fears judges are under growing political attack nationwide.

"I'm increasingly concerned about the current climate of challenge to judicial independence," O'Connor told a gathering of state judges from around the country Friday. "Unhappiness with judges today is at a very intense level."

The judiciary is the weakest of the three branches of government, she said, and therefore the one with "the greatest need to be defended."

The executive and legislative branches have become the attackers, so "the principal defenders are going to have to be the people of this country," with lawyers taking the lead, she said.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4311401.html

[Erika]

1. W declared war on the Supreme Court

He has totally emasculated the court and turned it in to a body politico. The radical Bushbots want the court to echo their sentiments or be silent.

[Diane R]

2. If there is one person I blame most for the disaster of W, it's O'Connor.

It doesn't matter to me what she says and what she does these days. When she was called upon to preserve democracy and justice, she handed the presidency to a liar and a cheat.

[keopeli]

9. O'Conner appointed King George. She knew it was wrong then, and she knows it's wrong today.

The only difference between now and then is that the world didn't turn out the way she hoped when she appointed the Republican Party to rule our nation unchecked.

She will now try to fix her legacy until the day she dies. People like this know their name will live a very long time, and they care about their reputation.

[dchill]

11. She is an ass.

I don't want to hear anything she has to say, except, "I'm so sorry."

[bemildred]

17. Yeah. It's like listening to Perle talk about how Iraq went wrong.

What a self-serving, unprincipled whiner. All the rats are looking for the scuppers.

[upi402]

3. She worries about threats made to judges

and the intimidating effects of the threats. I suspect there is a shadowy element to her concerns, but have no real knowledge of it.

It seemed, in an interview with her, that she was worried about political attacks on the judiciary less. She asked for medical terms to be used if Dr's were to be put in peril of criminal charges -but Republican congressmen defiantly used the term 'partial term abortion'. They smear the judicial branch as activist too, and she sees how destructive their toxic propaganda will be.

[SoCalDem]

4. Well Gee Whiz, Sandy

Maybe you guys should have thought about that when you stuck your big ham-hands into the electoral fiasco known as the '00 Florida election.

The court needs a massive overhaul.

To even pretend that they are apolitical is to suspend reality.

we need term limits for ALL government "employees".

We have 300 million people in this land, and there's no shortage of dedicated smart people who could do a better job.

SCOTUS nominees should be at LEAST 55 years old and should have a mandatory retirement age of 70.

A 55 year old person would have had plenty of "career-time" to have a paper trail, and their children would have probably been out of the nest by then, so they could have the time to dedicate to the court.

and with a 15 year max term, crazy mistakes would not last for 50 years..

I would also like a provision in there that would eliminate ANYONE who ever made a political contribution to ANY party or candidate..

Judges are supposed to be impartial..

but then, that's just me :)

[anitar1]

6. SoCal, I like the way you think.

I think the present Supremes should be impeached and let's start all over with the limits you mentioned.Mandatory time limits. this is just another party tool, as it stands now. Edited for spelling.

[EST]

7. Thoughtful, thorough analysis.

I think there is a problem with the notion of "impartial" or "apolitical," however.

I listened to a very good argument, today, that included a perceptive treatment of the notions surrounding non-political or independent and whether or not a person can actually be neutral enough to justify the term while being passionate enough to notice the problems of the world and motivated enough to do something about them.

The best we can probably hope for is not a justice who is apolitical but one who possesses a broad and informed enough world view, along with a touch of compassion, humility, and a deep understanding of people to be able to set aside his own passions and interpret law as though he/she were truly neutral.

[SoCalDem]

8. SCOTUS should be about interpretation of the legality

by the time an issue reached them, the "passion" probably needs some squelching. I would think that a lot of passion would have been expressed in the journey through congress, and through the various levels of courtroom drama BEFORE it gets to SCOTUS.

If they are truly the "last stop" when it comes to legality, I would like to think that they would be dis-passionate and would be merely deciding on the merits of the case..

[keopeli]

10. Another suggestion

I would consider changing the Senate Confirmation to the Supreme Court to require a 2/3 super majority. This would encourage more bi-partisanship.

I personally don't believe we should make the judicial system reflect the politics of the other two branches by imposing term limits. There is value in the wisdom of extensive experience, as we can see from most of our current court. Rather, I believe re-confirmation would be more appropriate, perhaps even by a simple majority.

I don't think it's appropriate to disallow party donations. In effect, this discourages involvement in the electorate for potential judges. Just allow their party biases to be part of the confirmation process.

[hang a left]

23. IMO

The confirmation process is a joke. It is all rehearsed, the candidates all dodge and weave. They are coached to avoid answering questions that should really be answered. Our whole system needs to be douched.

[aquart]

5. Filthy Fiver taking no responsibility for her unconstitutional actions.

Her opinion is worth spit. Just like her name and her legacy.

[hang a left]

24. No kidding

Now upon returning from Iraq, she wants to talk about the assault on the judiciary. Excuse me while I go throw up.

[aggiesal]

12. She should have thought about this back in 2000, ...

When she voted with the gang of 5, and decided to stop the recount, because
"... it would do irrepairable damage to George Bush ..."

She should get everything she deserves!!!

[gratuitous]

22. Not irreparable damage to George Bush

The Supremes took on the case on an expedited basis because of the danger of imminent harm to Bush's claim that he had won Florida. There was no legal precedent the Supreme Court was reviewing; it was Bush's claim of victory that needed to be protected and upheld before all that inconvenient evidence (like hand-counting the votes) could muck it up.

Thank you oh so much, Mrs. O'Connor. Go back to Arizona and ride horses. You've done quite enough to--er, for, our nation.

[rodeodance]

13. and Bush said just yesterday if you want more judges like Alito, then

vote Republican.

The message is on the wall folks.

[xchrom]

14. you weren't independent in '00 ms o'connor.

why are you complaining about it now?

[Eurobabe]

15. As she should, I listened to an interesting show on NPR

from Aspen in September. She was also very disappointed that DimSon didn't appoint another woman to take her place.

[Demit]

16. O'Connor and Colin Powell, speaking out after the damage they were a part

of is done. How brave and forthright of them. I am impressed with them equally.

[City Lights]

18. Gee, sandie day, maybe if you had let the voters decide who should

be president, you wouldn't have this to worry about. Instead, you crowned lil georgie king, so quityerbitchin! :mad: :grr: :nuke:

[depakid]

19. She's not one to talk

Her legacy is and always will be marred by her lack of ethics. Not recusing herself in Bush v. Gore after her public statements on the matter will be one of those black marks in history.

[MrSlayer]

20. I have no respect for her at all.

First she lets the Chimp become President without being elected and then she fucking retires, allowing him to put a psychopath on the bench and she has the audacity to complain about it? Fuck you Sandy, this is your own fault, you fucked all of us over.

[boilinmad]

21. I couldnt agree more......

.....BINGO :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[knight_of_the_star]

25. I think Dante said it best

"There is a special place in Hell for those who those who remain neutral in times of great moral crisis." I think she gets an even better place for doing something she knew was wrong in the first place because her political opinions ran contrary to her proffesional ethics.

[MasonJar]

26. I'm glad she is speaking out, even though she single-handedly

created the problem. Any voice in the wilderness at this point will help some.

[TankLV]

27. Fucking bitch whore...

My apologies to dogs everywhere for using the term bitch...

Gee, sandy, you whore, maybe you shoulda thought of that before you FORCED these WAR CRIMINALS on the country back in 2000 when you stopped the COUNTING of the votes that would have proved GORE would have been President...