EDITORIAL: Justice shouldn't be political-Sandra Day O'Connor crosses the line(Fire her Roberts)

wash times ^ | 10/29/10

[bestintxas]

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has violated the Code of Conduct for United States judges. She should resign from her position as a roving judge on "senior status." If she doesn't resign, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. - at whose sole discretion she serves as a "pinch hitter" on lower federal courts - should no longer designate her for such duties.

In a controversial case Tuesday before a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Mrs. O'Connor provided the deciding vote in a 2-1 decision to throw out Arizona's requirement that new voter registrants provide proof of citizenship. This was not just another lousy decision in Justice O'Connor's long record of uneven jurisprudence. The deeper ethical problem is that she is active in political causes while continuing to serve as a judge.

This week, the retired justice was exposed for having recorded political robo-calls pushing a constitutional amendment in Nevada for state judges to be appointed by governors rather than elected by citizens. She claims she never gave permission for her recording to be used for robo-calls, but she recorded not just a voice message but also a video for a political group dedicated solely to passing this amendment - a group she leads as "honorary chairwoman."

[bestintxas]

There have been no women ever selected for the Supreme Court who reflect most American Values.

And Sandra is supposed to be the most conservative.

Baloney, just another pontificating lib.

[Mouton]

I recall John Riggins a football player for the Redskins in the 80’s, gyrating under a table at a function O”conner was at why yellout out: loosen up Sandy baby. I guess she did.

[Red Badger]

Fire her?..........she’s retired...............and even if she wasn’t he can’t fire her...........

[bestintxas]

“Fire her?..........she’s retired...............and even if she wasn’t he can’t fire her...........”

Obviously she is not retired, she still works, or didn’t you read what happened in article?

Roberts controls this if you read it.

[Red Badger]

She’s a “pinch hitter”. All he has to do is nothing................

[Pilsner]

An honorably retired Federal Judge can take agree to remain under the ethics rules that bind active Federal Judges, and be available for appointments to fill in when active judges are not able to handle the case load. At the trial court level, that often happens because a district has several unfilled seats at once. The retired judges have their expenses(travel, hotel, meals) paid, and (I think) gets a stipend.

Appointments in the South are much valued, especially in the Winter, by retired northern judges. Appointments to sit in places like the American Virgin Islands are much sought after.