Justice William C Goodloe
Judicial candidates will tell you they are unable to divulge their positions on public issues. That is only a smoke screen so they don’t have to tell you where they stand and can try to play all sides of the field. The rules of judicial conduct do allow for a judicial candidate to express their views on an issue — and it is impossible to have no perspective — what it does not allow is for a candidate to express how they would rule on a specific case that would come before their court. Here are several questions you may ask a judcial candidate without getting him in trouble.
These are from previous Judicial Forum election questionnaires:
1. Why are you running for office?
2. What would you like to see accomplished while you are in office?
3. Which groups or prominent figures have endorsed you?
4. What is the most significant case that you have worked on as an advocate or judge? (Please don’t say every case is equally important).
5. Which Washington State court decision do you think has most impacted society? How and Why?
6. Which federal court decision do you think has most impacted society? How and Why?
7. If you could write a biography on any Justice of the United States Supreme Court (past or present) who would it be? Why?
8. Of the current United States Supreme Court justices, which member do you admire most? How would you introduce that person to a colleague?
9. How much freedom do you think a judicial candidate should have to express his views?
10. Do you think judges should be elected by the people, or appointed by a commission?
11. How do you view the separation of powers?
12. In your view, what is the threshold for determining constitutionality of a legislative act? or a challenge to it?
13. Can a valid treaty override existing State law? What is a valid treaty?
14. What is the relationship of the Declaration of Independence to our federal Constitution?
15. What does it mean that we are a nation of law, not of men?
16. What is the rule of law? And what is the foundation?
17. What else do you want to tell us about yourself?
NOTE: Judicial Forum archives are listed on cominus’ personal site – http://cominus.com
Those questions reveal what is wrong with the judicial system, completely alien to our common law constitution.
I still believe that judges and reps should be drafted and justly compensated for their service.
James,
The media and political hacks have been moving for changing the system from elections to appointments for many years. If they are successful, we will lose a lot of accountability and the judges will be even more above the law than they are now.
Here is one perspective from a journalist (who usually sides with the appointment groupies):
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/6202
Keep the faith.
I advocate a return to the common/natural law of our organic constitution not the oligarchic corporatism we have now.
The rule of tens has proven effective throughout the common history and experience of mankind and even better with American common law where the efficacious blood of the Lamb of God has changed the world and judicial examination for good.
We suffer far too much from mans thinking instead of the wisdom of God, basing what is right and wrong on what benefits special interests instead of the body of Christ.
We can not improve on God’s creation but as long as men create government instead of implementing God’s government we will continue to suffer injustice and death.
Eph 1-7 in Whom we are having the deliverance through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses in accord with the riches of His grace,
8 which He lavishes on us; in all wisdom and prudence
9 making known to us the secret of His will (in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him)
10 to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ — both that in the heavens and that on the earth –
What About Judicial Candidates?…
If you live in Washington State, where we elect our judges, you might have found it frustrating, how very little information is available about the judicial candidates. And if you attend any political meetings or forums, where judicial candidates are…..