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• Checks and balances (Score:1)

  by gizmo_mathboy (782)

  I am very shocked and dismayed that a Supreme Court Justice would do this. First, it's doing this in cooperation with the First Lady. That smacks of entanglement with the Executive Branch (not directly but enough to cause me concern). Second, I know I hold Justices in high regard and don't want them to soil them selves in such mundane, materials. Finally, do I want my Justice to say things like "requires a legal response" regarding an attack of some sort?
  
  While I disagree with chaoticset about this particu
  • Re:Checks and balances (Score:1)

    by pudge (1) on 2002.01.29 8:50 (#3785) Homepage Journal

    There is absolutely no problem with checks and balances, let alone separation of powers, with this. There's nothing having to do with law, legislation, or official activity. It is privately funded. To throw around legal terms like "checks and balances" and implying a problem with separation of powers is entirely inappropriate. Justices do this sort of thing quite often, speaking to kids and students about the law and ethics and the whole thing. It's only worthy of note, really, because of the specific hot-button topic.
    
    On a similar line, I don't understand what your concern is about "throwing their judicial weight around." Again, this kind of thing happens all the time. Most Justices consider it their responsibility to speak up about such things.

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    • Re:Checks and balances (Score:1)

      by gizmo_mathboy (782)

      I think it is the appearance. Working with the First Lady makes it appear that the Executive gives approval to this. While it's not like the Vice President and a Justice were doing this program I still think that the First Lady shouldn't have been a partner.
      
      I do agree that programs like this are done by judges, but how many are done by Justices of the Supreme Court? How many are done by a Justice and someone associated with another branch of government?
      • Re:Checks and balances (Score:1)

        by pudge (1)

        You seem to misunderstand. Who cares if it IS the Vice President and a Justice? There is no principle -- legal, traditional, ethical, or othewise -- involved.
        
        I do agree that programs like this are done by judges, but how many are done by Justices of the Supreme Court?
        
        Many.
        
        How many are done by a Justice and someone associated with another branch of government?
        
        Many. No one cares about what branch of government someone is affiliated with when in private, non-official activities, especially when de