Criticising critics of criticism

Chief Justice Holder has gotten some coverage over her remarks that it was "ridiculous" to think that voters choosing judges is better than special-interest-lawyer-controlled commissions choosing judges. And similar campaigning by other sitting judges/justices is attracting criticism (here).

Well, TBA President Buck Lewis ("TBA President on criticism of Tennessee judges") is having none of it:

The architects of our Constitution established three branches of government – the executive, legislative and judicial branch. Each of those branches is given specific responsibilities.

First of all, it's rich to have Buck Lewis--uber proponent of a system that flouts the clear intent of the "the architects of our Constitution," appealing to the intent of said "architects."

But I like how Lewis states in one paragraph (above) that members of the judiciary have been "given specific responsibilities," and he contradicts it in the next sentence by asserting that judges should act no differently than policy makers or legislators. Astonishing. I'm curious to hear Lewis articulate exactly how he thinks members of one branch differ from members in the other branch.

On the bright side, it's good to see someone defending those poor ol' Supreme Court Justices who have thrust themselves into the politics of how judges should be picked.


See also in the Times Free Press.