Friday, March 10, 2006

O'Conner: Top Republicans Threaten American Freedoms

Yesterday at Georgetown University, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, a Republican judge appointed by Ronald Reagan, blasted top Republican officials for their blatant attack on the independence of the courts.

"Republicans challenge the independence of judges and the freedoms of all Americans when they attack judicial independence," O'Conner said.

While not naming Tom DeLay directly, she chided him for his attacks on the courts and their independence. She mocked DeLay for his constant labeling judges as being activist and then threatening retaliation when the courts show judicial restraint as in the Terri Schivo case.

She also chided Republican Senator John Cornyn for his statements that the increase in violence against judges is due to their decision.

O'Conner said that she was opposed to judicial reform that is being "driven by nakedly partisan reasoning," as is being done by top Republicans.

She also drew the analogy of developing countries and former soviet block countries where the politicians can strong arm the judiciary to conform to their will. She said that there is a lot of degeneration before a country ends up in a dictatorship, but it is best to avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings.

Via NPR

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