Speaking up for Judges

A federal judge -- her husband and mother murdered by a disgruntled plaintiff -- wants the Senate to condemn rhetoric about the Judicial Branch. Federal District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow told the Judiciary Committee:

"Fostering disrespect for judges can only encourage those that are on the edge, or the fringe, to exact revenge on a judge who ruled against them."

The Associated Press put together a list of recent quotes critical of the judiciary:

• House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on the Terri Schiavo case: "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."
• Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) on a Supreme Court decision restricting the death penalty for minors: [Public frustration] "builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in violence, certainly without any justification."
• Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson on ABC's "This Week:" "Over 100 years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."
  

In Judge Lefkow's case, a man who'd had his medical malpractice suit thrown out of court broke into the Judge's house and shot her mother and husband. (AP via Yahoo!)