Harris Explores New Ways To Politicize The Courts

The Star and Post-Dispatch have the story of a rather incredible letter from lobbyist and Better Courts for Missouri leader James Harris. In the letter sent Monday, Harris asks sitting Republican senators to “speak with members of the [Missouri Supreme] Court” about about a pending case.

Harris' outrageous suggestion that politicians should be lobbying members of the judiciary about pending cases was quickly shot down by the chief of staff to Sen. Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph).

Please know that any ex parte communication from you with the judges about this case or any issue before the court may involve serious legal ramifications and should be avoided at all costs.

Emphasis in the original.

In response, Harris said he should have asked Senators to "monitor" the case, but that clearly wasn't the intention of his letter.  Read it here.