If I've understood the conflicting conservative arguments against the judicial system, their main complaint is that judges aren't accountable to the people. Right, guys?
"Unelected judges can cut the voters out of the loop and decree liberal dogma as the law of the land." - Thomas Sowell
[More below]
"Aided and abetted by arrogant, unaccountable and unelected judges who are determined to implement their vision of political correctness, thousands of unlawfully "married" gays and lesbians are fanning out across the nation, preparing civil rights suits and demanding recognition by the courts." - James Dobson
"I am questioning the propriety - indeed, the sanity - of having a value-laden decision such as this made for the entire society ... by unelected judges." - Justice Antonin Scalia
"My only concern is of an unelected judge imposing same sex marriage against the will of the people and the representatives." - Ankle Biting Pundits
But, then again, conservatives
really hate it when the judges are elected. From Pensacola's
Independent News:
Republican Party members and Gov. Jeb Bush plan to fight for their right to appoint 55 local judges across the state, including two new First Judicial Circuit Court posts in Santa Rosa County.
The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature in a House Bill called for the judges to be elected rather than appointed. Even though local judges are elected, many earn their seats by appointment because judges will often quit during their term to allow the Florida governor to select a replacement. Once on the bench, judges rarely face opposition when their terms end and often serve until they're ready to retire.
But Bush and his cronies do not like the election of the new judge posts. So, the Judicial Nominating Committee for the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County is challenging in the Florida Supreme Court the elections scheduled this fall.
Bush is just like his brother. They don't think it's fair that they can't game the system whenever they want.
[Crossposted at Nitpicker.]