Litigation

Bloomberg Faults Judges, Sparks Criticism

By Peter Hardin

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is getting criticism for having suggested that there are times when judges should go beyond interpreting the law to take a more activist stance.

Bloomberg said it was “probably true” that his administration did not comply with legal procedures when it sought to close 19 failing city schools, the Wall Street Journal reported. After an appeals panel of the State Supreme Court ruled against his administration, Bloomberg said the court had a larger obligation.

“We’re playing with children’s lives, not whether the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed,” Bloomberg said. “They should look at the context of it, and for them to think, ‘Well, you know, I’m just here to interpret the law,’ that’s not true. They are part of society.” He said the judges “made a terrible mistake.”

One of those criticizing Bloomberg was Doug Muzzio, a public affairs professor at Baruch College. “He’s telling the judges that ‘I am so right on the issue that your interpretation of the law doesn’t matter. It’s Bloomberg law. I am the philosopher king. I know best,’” Muzzio said.

Full post as published by The Gavel on July 05, 2010 (boomark / email).