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November 21, 2003
Ark. Supremes Get One Right
The Arkansas Supreme Court got one right yesterday.
The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Friday in favor of a Court of Appeals judge who says he shouldn't have been admonished for speaking out about race issues at the University of Arkansas.
The high court said a judicial-conduct standard on which the state Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission based the letter of admonishment to Judge Wendell L. Griffen "intrudes on legitimate free speech."
The letter of admonishment stemmed from a meeting at which Judge Griffen spoke about his opinions as a private citizen....not as a judge. While I think that judges should be held to a higher standard, and not allowed to speak on pending matters before their courts....they still should have the right to express their opinions on unrelated matters just like everyone else.
Otherwise, they run the risk of being disconnected from the real world and falling prey to the ivory tower syndrome.
Like a few US Supremes I could mention.
Posted by Rita at November 21, 2003 07:50 AM