WASHINGTON JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY INITIATIVE LAW
"J.A.I.L."
A Proposed Amendment to the Washington Constitution
* * * STATE POLITICS AND J.A.I.L. * * *
On or about December 27, 2001, State Senator Adam Kline directed the following to J.A.I.L.: "There are already enough anger-driven assholes that I have to listen to. I don't need any more. Please REMOVE me from your e-mail list immediately."
You can read the full text of that e-mail and J.A.I.L.'s response here. The worst part of Mr. Kline's statement is that, considering J.A.I.L.'s intent, and considering that Mr. Kline knew full well what J.A.I.L.'s intent was at the time that he made that statement, it shows that Mr. Kline has nothing but contempt for the people of Washington State and that he feels he and his cronies are entitled to be masters over the people of Washington State instead of the public servants they are supposed to be.
Mr. Kline's statement and attitude became so well publicized, and he received so much heat from people that, in what amounts to a favorable turn of events for J.A.I.L., he has since apologized to J.A.I.L. for his statement. In response, J.A.I.L. has offered Senator Kline the opportunity to help J.A.I.L. become law in the state of Washington. To everyone in Washington reading this, we urge you to personally contact Mr. Kline to express your support for J.A.I.L. We also urge you to print out copies of these Web pages and give them to as many people as you can.
The J.A.I.L. initiative is a movement that first emerged in California on the heels of judicial scandals that saw many judges and lawyers indicted for corrupt practices. Popular sentiment to implement measures for judicial reform had been building for decades. It culminated with the drafting of a legislative proposal by Ronald Branson, Member of California's 38th Assembly District Republican Central Committee, who has proposed that similar legislation be adopted for every state and the District of Columbia.
The J.A.I.L. proposal would create special grand juries to investigate complaints against judges. These grand juries would have the power to discipline judges by levying fines, removing them from the bench and, where appropriate, subjecting them to criminal proceedings before special trial juries. Under present law, the judiciary is entirely self-regulated, and this has led, in many instances, to intolerable abuses of judicial discretion. These have involved conflict of interest, denial of due process, withholding of evidence, and other violations of individuals' constitutional rights, including arbitrary and unjustified fines, sanctions, seizure of property, and detention.
United under the banner of JAIL4Judges is a broad coalition of citizens from all backgrounds, professions, and political persuasions who are dedicated to the mission of reforming the judiciary. By means of petition, voters in Washington can compel the state legislature to place the J.A.I.L. proposal on the ballot for voter approval. Thus, the gathering of signatures for the J.A.I.L. ballot initiative defines the next course of action for Washington citizens who are determined to work for judicial reform.
A Web page with links and other useful information about state and federal courts and legislatures is under construction. You will no doubt want to see it when it is finished.
Washington JAILer-In-Chief
Brad Goodspeed
e-mail: [email protected]
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