Posted on 10/26/2006 3:19:20 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Although wealthy New Yorker Howard Rich is behind most of the 2006 ballot measures seeking to curb government power, he is not engaged in the campaign for the most revolutionary measure - a South Dakota initiative that would strip judges of their immunity and expose them to possible fines and jail terms.
If Amendment E passes on Nov. 7, South Dakota would be the first state where citizens could sue judges for official acts. Supporters say it would rein in judges who deliberately disregard law and violate people's rights.
Opponents contend judges already are accountable through elections and review procedures. They say the measure is so broad that it would apply to school board members and city councilors, who sometimes make judicial decisions, deterring people from serving in such posts.
The amendment would create a special grand jury of 13 citizens who would determine if those making judicial decisions broke rules set by the grand jury. Judges stripped of their immunity could be subjected to civil and criminal sanctions, and lose public insurance coverage and up to half their retirement benefits.
"No one should be above the law," said Jake Hanes, a spokesman for the campaign pushing Amendment E.
Opponents of the amendment, whose ranks include lawyers, business groups and government officials, say on their campaign Web site that their adversaries "have a paranoid vendetta against our courts."
The amendment "is nothing more than a proposal for revenge, a path to anarchy and chaos," the Argus Leader of Sioux Falls said in an editorial.
The proposal, titled the Judicial Accountability Initiative Law, was conceived by a Californian, Ron Branson, who contacted South Dakotans after failing to get it on his own state's ballot. The Amendment E campaign says it has severed ties with Branson and does not use his nickname for the measure - "Jail4Judges."
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On the Net:
Pro-amendment: http://www.southdakotajudicialaccountability.com/
Anti-amendment: http://www.no-on-e.com/
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However, I still remember in the declaration of independence, the phrase; "The insolence of office" that attaches to not only electeds these days, but to too many appointed and even self-annointed who've been to too many Liberal "self-esteem" classes!!! Ha Ha ha!!!
Reminds me of the Cuban character in the movie "Scar Face" with Al Pacino. Pacino's character asks the Cuban, after he's chain-sawed up a bunch of people, why he loves killing so much. The Cuban answers:"They're Communists! I love to kill Communists!! They're always tryin to tell everybody what to do!!!"
Viva the anti-Communist Cuban guy!!!
Where did you get you're "poetic license?"
"As the founders intended."
How quaint.
Oh geez, Mark Furhman would still be on the stand and the OJ trial would still be going.
The art of firing (suing) is actually the art of hiring (electing).
Most judges are not appointed for life. Judicial candidates that have the potential to legislate from the bench are unidentifiable before election.
Each of us must use our best judgment when voting for members of the judiciary and then must be prepared to suffer the responsibilities of a democratic process. The only due process available in this jurisdiction should remain at the ballot box.
Insulation for local officials is another matter entirely since their actions, not their judgment, can be constrained by related, municipal, county and state codes and government actions are not immune form legal challenge, timely restraint and possible, consequent, monetary relief. It is nigh impossible to either litigate or legislate morality. It is impossible to guarantee character through such means.
Just about everyone else can be sued for almost any reason. To the judges, I say welcome to our world.
Perhaps this would bring on true judicial reform and "loser pays" to the courtrooms.
Then you want no judges at all.
Both of us, too. I didn't just read the "explanation", but read the entire sad document, start to finish.
It has so many nasty little bombs packed inside it, it makes a Pali ambulance look innocent.
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