J.A.I.L. News Journal
______________________________________________________
Los Angeles, California August 30, 2005
______________________________________________________
Argus Leader (S.D.)
Conducts a
Judicial
Poll
(By Ron Branson - Author/Founder of
J.A.I.L.)
A recent poll was taken by the Argus Leader newspaper
apparently in an attempt to influence South Dakota J.A.I.L.'s impact in S.D.
They posed the following question to the people,
"Should people unhappy with a judge's ruling have the authority
to appeal to a grand jury for the right to sue the judge?" Their poll results reveals the following:
Yes: 49.2%
No:
50.8%
Total votes: 1,931
Assuming the validity of such a poll, South Dakota
Judicial Accountability (SDJA) is a shoe-in for passage in South Dakota in
the Nov. 2006 election.
First off, such a question is totally bogus as
presented to the voters of South Dakota if it is meant by the Argus Leader to
infer that this is what SDJA is all about, and what the voters are voting for by
supporting this measure in the forthcoming election.
The above poll poses a question on whether
the citizens of South Dakota should be able to whimsically do an end-run around
the appellate court and go directly to the Special Grand Jury created by
the SDJA measure for an appeal because they are "unhappy" with a judge's
decision, and can thereby sue the judge.
The fact is, that even I, as the Author/Founder of
J.A.I.L., would not support such a measure for the following
reasons:
A.) We are supposed to be a nation of laws, and not of
men. To be able to appeal a decision because one is "unhappy" with the decision
is to convert our laws into emotional feelings, opening the door to every
kind of whimsical appeal. Laws are to be fixed and predictable just like
yardsticks, not to be stretched, compressed or molded by the feelings of men.
Yardsticks are not respecters of persons, changing standards according to
statures of persons.
B.) By law the jurisdiction of courts are
established by legislatures, and such laws must govern our courts.
They must govern over courts the same way every time for every
person. After all we are to be a nation with "Liberty and Justice for All,"
not just for the wealthy or influential.
C.) Our country is established on a system of three
separate, but equal branches of government; a legislature, an executive, and a
judicial branch, with each a check upon the other two. This is a good system in
theory, and we must not change that. Like an umpire at a ballgame calling
fouls and strikes, judges must be free and independent to exercise their
unfettered discretion without fear of reprisal for their decisions, nor should
judge's decisions be overturned by upper courts for light or transient
reasons.
It is for these above reasons I vigorously oppose
such a ridiculous proposal if it were placed upon the ballot. It is also
for this is the very reason why I am totally amazed that the above
poll reveals that 49.2% of South Dakotans would support such a measure if
placed on the ballot. And this is why I question the validity of
the poll taken by the Argus Leader.
Are the people of South Dakota so ignorant and so
blind so as to render established laws governing courts moot? I would hope
not. If this poll is one-half correct, as it claims to be, it
reveals such a great displeasure with the courts and
the judges so much so that they are willing to abandon the
above current principles just so they could sue a judge. In other
words, they just want to get their hands around a judge's throat. What a
thought!
Now we come to the question, if I, being the Author of
the SDJA (J.A.I.L.) Initiative would oppose the proposed changes for the
judiciary as set forth by the question asked by the Argus Leader, then what is
it I propose?
I have already stated that I support the exercise of
independent discretion of judges. I have said that their decisions should
never be overturned by the appellate courts except for abuse of discretion.
I have further stated that the laws governing court jurisdiction must be
honored.
So, you ask, what is my problem with the courts then?
My problem is when judges act outside and beyond their discretion. For instance,
passing laws from the bench (judicial activism) is not within their
jurisdiction. Ignoring the Constitution they have sworn to uphold,
and the laws which govern their conduct and behavior is not within
their discretion. It is not in their discretion any more than an umpire has
the right to change the rules of the game, or to apply
different rules to different players according as he deems
fit.
My problem is with the concept that judges should
be protected from liability from wrong-doing by their own
self-made immunity when they choose to commit crimes or chose to
disregard laws, and make up new laws as they see fit. I have a problem
with judges being above the laws when they are to be under the law. This is
what SDJA is all about.
Conclusion: If 49.2% of South Dakotans would vote
to sue judges based upon being unhappy with their decisions, and would
rather appeal to a grand jury instead of an appellate court, which I have
condemned as senseless, then how much more would they wisely vote in
2006 to hold judges liable when they willingly, knowingly and
deliberately choose to violate the Constitution and the laws they have
sworn to uphold?
Based on the above, I say SDJA will be a
shoe-in, a "no-contest" come this next November, 2006. In such case, we can
all celebrate the Victory for America next year! Thank you Argus Leader for your
poll.
-Ron Branson