Put away sword of Damocles

Article Abstract:

Conservative Republican congressmen such as Republican Tom DeLay of Texas argue that the federal judiciary is rife with activism, but neither he nor any colleague has identified as much as one judge from the approximately 1000-member judicial roster allegedly guilty of decisions worthy of impeachment. DeLay seems to want to intimidate incumben judges with his political conservatism. Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Orrin Hatch has pledged to use the confirmation power against nominees who show traces of judicial activism of the kind he scorns.

United States, Political aspects

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Yes: a scuttled investigation

Article Abstract:

Senators Wendell Ford and Ted Stevens of the Senate Rules Committee gave in the claims of journalistic privilege in ending the investigation of which legislators leaked information on the sexual harassment charges made by Anita Hill against Clarence Thomas to journalists Nina Totenberg and Timothy Phelps. Because of this action, Congress' investigative and deliberative powers will be hampered, the executive branch will be loath to share confidential information with them and the press will have have carte blanche to hamper legislative investigations.

Laws, regulations and rules, Confidential communications, Journalistic privilege, Governmental investigations, Government investigations

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Yes: the press loves activists

Article Abstract:

The press favors activist judges, since rulings showing judges with substantial social engineering powers make for better news copy. Most members of the press are interested in results rather than standards for statutory interpretation, another factor militating in favor of activist judges.

Judges, Public opinion, Media coverage

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