Question on Bush's judges

[FreedomAngel82]

I was wondering something. If Bush gets his wish and he gets these wacked out judges is there anyway next time a democrat is president to get rid of them? Or will they stay until they leave whether through retirement or something else? Thanks in advanced.

[merh]

1. Life time appointments, only way to remove is impeachment

(e.g. Nixon, Hastings)

[sui generis]

3. or keep them out to begin with

- that's why we fight so hard to keep the nutcases out. They can do a lifetime of damage when their myopic decisions are used as legal precedent.

[tinonedown]

2. This worries me

I would like to be educated as well. The only court I know the rules for are the Supreme Court. What about the other appointments - circuit courts, other federal appts.? Can they be removed down the road after he appoints them?

[WillowTree]

4. Only by death, voluntary retirement, or impeachment.

Federal judges are appointed for life. At least in theory, they can constitutionally be impeached, but, just as for the President, only ".....for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors", which is a pretty difficult standard to meet in the first place, and then they would have to be convicted by a trial in the Senate with 2/3 of the senators voting for removal from office.

In other words, they're appointed for life and that's just about it.

[BoogDoc7]

5. Which...

Brings an interesting notion to a modern conservative idea, that judges should only serve 12-year terms....not sure how that would fly on the left, though.

[bryant69]

6. I don't know -

While I agree that getting conservative nutjobs on the bench is scary, the principle is that they will be independent - able to act for themselves instead of on the whims of whatever happen.

In theory their only constituency is the Constitution and such laws as have been passed since then.

Bryant
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