Litigation

On Left, More Impeachment Talk

By Peter Hardin

It’s not only activists on the right who are beating a drum for impeachment of judges with whom they disagree, on such issues as gay marriage or striking down the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

From the liberal side, a group called The Peace Team has a website that decries the Citizens United decision last year and invites visitors to send a message urging lawmakers to impeach Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas “for ruling in favor of his own campaign contributors.” Or, you can order a bumper sticker declaring, “Impeach the Supreme Court 5.”

Partisan impeachments of judges are the atomic bomb of American politics, and Justice at Stake has warned against impeachment talk from both parties(see Gavel Grab).

Last fall, when Justice at Stake Executive Director Bert Brandenburg cautioned against impeachment calls by two congressmen, one a Democrat and one a Republican, he said:

?Almost every American, liberal and conservative, has been angered by particular legal rulings, but that?s because we ask courts to settle tough legal disputes. It is reckless to threaten judges with ouster simply because we don?t like a particular decision.?

JAS filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court?s Citizens United case, and publicly stated its disappointment with the court?s eventual decision.

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 24, 2011 (boomark / email).