Talk about activist judge! Chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court. . .

[wndycty]

It appears the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court is playing politics, why in the hell would he call in and make such a statement on a Christian radio program?

Abortion-notification issue returns

September 20, 2006

BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Legal Affairs Reporter

Robert Thomas, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, called in to a Christian radio program in suburban Chicago last week to tell them he hoped to revive an abortion case the court had stalled action on 11 years earlier.

Late Monday, the court declared it would issue rules about how minor girls could appeal a judge's decision denying them the right to get an abortion without their families being notified. That will clear the way for a law passed by the Legislature in 1995 to take effect, requiring abortion providers to notify an adult relative of a pregnant teen before giving her an abortion.

Republican DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett has been campaigning for lieutenant governor on a platform of reviving the law, and he wrote a letter to the state high court in June asking it to finally write the rules that will let the law take effect.

Thomas, who won his seat on the court with support from anti-abortion groups six years ago, had already asked his clerks to research the issue before Birkett and the anti-abortion groups filed their briefs, said Joe Tybor, court spokesman.
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-abort20.html

[TAPat]

1. But, but, but, activist judges are

all wacko leftist liberal pinko baby killers - aren't they? :mondosarcasmo: :P

[RangerSmith]

5. no, no

the leftist judges are always called liberal or left wing judges.

Most "Activist" Judges are called that because they were appointed by the RW and they can't label them LW or liberal. lol

[yellowcanine]

2. Sounds as if he is using "facts not in evidence" to influence his decision

as judge. Judges aren't supposed to do that. On the bright side, it will provide a basis for appeal to a Federal Court.

[Divernan]

3. This story is terrifying - because the Illinois judicial ethics group

(whatever their official title may be), will NEVER have the guts to attack a Chief Justice. However, his actions in making this comment gives lawyers presenting any abortion case to the Illinois Supreme Court the right to demand that he recuse himself. If he refuses, I believe they could appeal his refusal to the US Supreme Court. In PA, the state House impeached a sitting supreme court justice, and the state Senate tried and convicted him for fraudulently obtaining controlled substances (drugs). The PA Justice's actions, in my mind, were not nearly as offensive as a Judge admitting publicly how he would decide a case yet to be brought to his court.

Here's the story from PA:
Justice Sentenced To 2-Year Probation In Prescription Case
A State Supreme Court justice who arranged to have his doctor prescribe tranquilizers in the name of court workers has been removed from the bench and sentenced to two years' probation. The justice, Rolf Larsen, must also perform 240 hours of community service for the drug conspiracy charges, on which he was convicted in April. Justice Larsen, who was sentenced on Monday by Judge Terrence O'Brien of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, had faced a maximum sentence of 20 months in prison.

June 15, 1994 Biography
MORE ON ETHICS AND: JUDGES, SEDATIVES, COURTS, SENTENCES (CRIMINAL), PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania House Votes To Impeach a State Justice
By MICHAEL DECOURCY HINDS,
A State Supreme Court justice convicted on drug charges was impeached today by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. If convicted by the State Senate, he would become the first elected official in Pennsylvania in 183 years to be removed after impeachment. The House, by 199 to 0, approved articles of impeachment against Justice Rolf Larsen, charging the 59-year-old Democrat with "abusing his judicial discretion" in a number of ways. The charges were sent to the State Senate, whose members will act as jurors in the impeachment trial.

May 25, 1994 U.S. Biography
MORE ON ETHICS AND: JUDGES, COURTS, IMPEACHMENT, PENNSYLVANIAPennsylvania Justice Nears Impeachment
Two committees of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives have approved articles of impeachment against a State Supreme Court Justice who was convicted last month of illegally obtaining prescription drugs. If the full House approves any of the seven charges against the Justice, Rolf Larsen, a trial will be held with the Senate acting as a jury and a team of House members prosecuting the case.

[wndycty]

4. This needs to be kicked and forwarded to all who care about. . .

. . .choice. Also this is a call to action.

[LynneSin]

6. Please send this into conservative idiots

YOu can email or PM Earlg about it