Judge Kopf goes after Ted Cruz

http://gillette-torvik.blogspot.com/2015/07/judge-kopf-goes-after-ted-cruz.html ^ | JULY 7, 2015 | Bart Torvik

[SoConPubbie]

div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-54425470890256818' itemprop='description articleBody'> Richard Kopf is a senior district court judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.

Ted Cruz is a United States Senator from Texas, and he is running for president as a Republican.

Judge Kopf does not care much for Senator Cruz.

His dislike stems from Cruz's proposal to amend the constitution to submit federal judges to retention elections. Based on this proposal, Judge Kopf declares:

Senator Ted Cruz is not fit to be President

Judge Kopf seems aware that he at least close to crossing a line by making such a statement:

As a federal judge, I am duty bound not to play politics. However, when a politician makes an extreme proposal to amend the Constitution and fundamentally alter and harm the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court, I have the right as a federal judge, and dare I say the duty, to respond to the proposal.

Judge Kopf's duty not to play politics is set out in Canon 5(A)(2) of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. It is fairly straightforward: "A judge should not . . . make speeches for a political organization or candidate, or publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for public office."

I think Judge Kopf's blog post can reasonably be interpreted as opposing Ted Cruz's candidacy for president. Although, the bulk of his post is an attack on the merits of Cruz's proposal—which seems permissible—he cannot resist taking specific shots at Cruz's fitness as a candidate for president. Perhaps we can view those shots as mere rhetorical bluster, rather than a serious opposition to Cruz's candidacy. What do you think, Mr. Gillette?

Incidentally, Judge Kopf quotes George Will pointing out that Cruz's proposal is similar to Teddy Roosevelt's proposal, when running for president as a Progressive in 1912, to submit judges to recall elections. Teddy Roosevelt, of course, actually served as president and became so popular that he's literally on the Mount Rushmore of U.S. Presidents. This undercuts Judge Kopf's argument that a person proposing to overhaul the judiciary in this way is unfit to president.

[RepRivFarm]

Judge Kopf can kiss my shiny white a$$.

If it were possible, the people of Nebraska would quickly rid themselves of politically appointed trash like Kopf.

[samtheman]

Kopf Proves Cruz Right

[frog in a pot]

Another judge that doesn't understand the plain meaning of words:

...an attack on the merits of Cruz's proposal...

Sounds a lot like prohibited statutory opposition to a politician to us plain, unrobed folks.

[DPMD]

Poor Kopf. It’s getting so you just can’t be a god anymore without the little people wanting a voice.

[SunkenCiv]

In related news, famous broadcast journalist reports on the objectivity found throughout broadcast journalism. Thanks SoConPubbie.

[MN_Mike]

So, Ted was right.