WHO JUDGES THE JUDGES?
Have you ever thought about this? Bill Volkart, from Cincinnati, has made some comments a lot of average people like me have often thought -- My thanks to Bill for letting me publish another one of his essays. THE WORDWRIGHT
Who Judges the Judges?
Copyright 2007
The US has a long history of an excellent legal system. In past years, the word judge invoked thoughts of a fair and well educated person, steeped heavily in our laws and above reproach in society. A person of reason who has earned his position only after years of work in the courts. Today's judges have become more like lawmakers than one who weighs the scales of justice to see what is right and fair. Lawmakers who are very hard to fire, if indeed they can be fired at all. Thus they sit in places of authority handing down one ridiculous ruling after another with impunity. Unlike elected officials and appointees tied to a certain administration, a judge basically has tenure for life and the potential for abuse is very high and we hear more about it every day. So who will judge the judges?
From old women being awarded millions for spilling their hot coffee to the month long spectacle involving Anna Nicole Smith and her baby and the parade of TV cameras, with the judge as star of the show, they prove again and again they are unworthy of the title they hold. If they even agree to hear such cases or prove to be too liberal in sentencing or releasing convicts to the street, there really should be something that can be done to move more responsibility to their shoulders and make consequences for their actions. But how do we do that?
For one, there needs to be someone a judge is accountable to, even if some say it might color their opinion on this or that case, it beats letting the inmates run the asylum. There are people suing each other for the silliest reasons and it won't be long before someone sues a chewing gum maker for his lost filling or crown. Now my take on that would be “did that not occur to you before you started chewing the gum, sir?” but the point is judges have the option to refuse to hear such a case but it sure gets their name on the evening news.
And when you voted for a judge last time did you notice most run unopposed? You can choose not to vote for them but that is about it. We should always have a choice of another candidate just in case old judge what's-his-name goes nuts and starts releasing child molesters. The last thing we need is a bunch of judges in a good old boys club overturning election results and passing on real worthwhile projects that might benefit the people or the country. No, we get Judge Judy.
So if you want to really make a change that might actually do some good, start putting pressure on your lawmakers to enact laws that oversee the judges throughout the legal system. Let them know you want judges to be accountable and insist on a choice on the ballot or come up with a darn good reason why. If this is a democracy, it applies to everyone, even someone in a black robe.
Sorry this post was so serious but I am in a bad mood. Maybe I should sue somebody?
+++++ THANKS, BILL VOLKART – you have certainly brought up some things to think about.
THE WORDWRIGHT