[Ads-l] activist judges

[Jonathan Lighter]

Judges were thought to have inclinations. Now they're expected to have
agendas.

The turning point toward cynicism may have come with the popular
circulation of the phrase "activist judges."

I did a newspaper search, and the result was about what I'd expected:

1970 _Times-Picayune_ (N.O.)  (Aug. 6) 26: An "activist" judge, he said,
may rule...against the Legislature's will.

1972 _Times-Picayune_ (N.O.) (Aug, 12) 21: To replace him with an "activist
judge," who would not be complacent with things as they are, who would put
principle before expediency, who would not fear to speak out even if he had
to stand alone, who would use the power and prestige of his office both to
battle crime and defend the Bill of Rights, who would fight on the front
lines of judicial reform, and not cower in the rear until the battles were
almost won.

...
1978 _Plain Dealer_ (Cleveland, O.) (Dec. 17) VI 7:  Furthermore, the
activist judge is usually faced with defiant public officials who attempt
to discredit the court, often charging that the judge is an unresponsive
and unelected decision maker.

JL

-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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