Gibbons Giving Hard Sell to Get Himself on Panel for High Court Vacancy
Senate President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons has reportedly begun an aggressive lobbying campaign in hopes of being one of three individuals named to the judicial panel from which Gov. Matt Blunt will choose a successor to Missouri Supreme Court justice Ronnie White.
The absurdity of Gibbons belief that he deserves a seat on the state's high court brings to mind a relevant editorial in the Springfield News-Leader from earlier this year. ÂThe News-Leader board opined:
Led by Gov. Matt Blunt, Senate President Pro Tem Sen. Mike Gibbons
and House Speaker Rod Jetton, all Republicans, members of the majority
party in the state's capital city aren't satisfied with controlling the
governor's mansion and both houses of the General Assembly. Through a
series of House joint resolutions, they want to change the Missouri
Constitution so they also control the judicial branch.We suggest they go to law school instead.
Sadly, Gibbons has already been there. Perhaps his alma mater might want to consider a referendum on his fitness as an attorney.
From this one can draw the conclusion that Springfield's paper of record won't be supporting Gibbons' power-play for the bench. And that's even before she or he gets to this part:
Blunt, Gibbons and Jetton show incredible disrespect for Missouri's
judges when they allege with no evidence that the state's judges are
willing to ignore the Constitution. Indeed, it is the triumvirate of
activist legislators — sorry, we couldn't help ourselves — who have
proven time and time again that they are willing to ignore the
Constitution if it serves their purposes.
Such is the culture of unwarrented entitlement in today's Missouri Republican Party that a GOP legislator --whose stint in the Senate leadership has been characterized largely by his embarassing subservience to House Republicans, whose fitness as a lawyer and respect for judges and the Constitution have been questioned, and who tacitly approves of measures that would degrade the state's justice system-- could with a straight face lay claim to a spot on the Supreme Court.
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Political Takeover in the Courthouse
The other issue to watch closely is the effort to change the non-partisan court plan to require judges at all levels and in all parts of the state to be elected in partisan political elections. Under the current plan the Governor already appoints jurists who represent his or her political slant under this plan, but that's not political enough for some in the legislature and beyond. Look at the excellent example of "strict constructionists" we have for President and Vice-President who have yet to find a law that they cannot circumvent for their own agenda.
Expanding politics into the judiciary does not make better judges, provide a more representative court, or create a more just system, but instead rewards those with the biggest campaign chests who are willing to do and say most anything to get elected. Take a look at what happened to Judge Tom Brown in Cole County during the last election. A rich guy from another part of the country, not from Missouri or the judicial circuit, spent a boatload of money on negative ads and got his guy elected. No discussion of judicial issues, just mud slung against the courthouse.
If you want more politics, do away with the non-partisan court plan and we'll have a judiciary that acts like the General Assembly.
"Many a bum show has been saved by the flag." - George M. Cohan