Judicial balance

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

“With this decision, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court shows how extreme it is, how far removed they are from the majority of this country. They have made the United States an outlier among developed nations in the world. But this decision must not be the final word,” Joe Biden, June 24, 2022, after the Supreme Court nullified Roe v. Wade.

“One of the darkest days our country has ever seen,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., June 24, 2022, commenting on the same case as Joe Biden above.

“Today, justice has been served. This is a tremendous victory for this state, this nation, and for everyone who believes that we all must play by the same rules — even former presidents,” New York Attorney General Letita James, Feb. 16, 2024, after Judge Arthur F. Engoron found Donald Trump and other defendants guilty in a “fraud” case with no victims.
Fani Willis, District Attorney of Fulton County, Ga., won her Democratic Primary last month, despite the stories about her conduct in a case she is attempting to bring against Donald Trump.  

The New York Times has reported, on June 5, 2024, that the “Georgia Appeals Court Stays Most Proceedings in Trump Election Case.” The Appeals Court plans on hearing appeals as to the qualifications and actions of Willis.

Democrat senators have called for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from Supreme Court cases involving Donald Trump because of flags flown at his residences.

"It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict," Biden said, speaking to reporters at the White House. This was after the verdict in Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial on May 31, 2024.  

Biden continued, “The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed.”

And in other ideas being bandied about, it has been suggested, “The answer to two of the Democrats’ emerging problems is staring them in the face. They need to prevail upon Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down now, with the enticement that she will be replaced by none other than Vice President Kamala Harris, Esq. This face-saving two-fer allows Harris to demonstrate that she, ever the loyalist, remains admirably at the ready to serve country and party wherever needed.” (Wall Street Journal, Letters to the Editors, June 2, 2024.)

Soon we will hear remarks pertaining to the outcome of the Hunter Biden gun trial. We’ll likely also hear remarks about the House of Representatives’ referrals of Hunter Biden and James Biden to the DOJ for the offense of lying to Congress.

Is this the first time we’ve experienced so much angst with the judicial system? Sadly, no. I refer you to the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, when, in the 1930s, the Supreme Court was not going his way, he attempted to stuff it with more judges that were like-minded to him.  

Fortunately, Congress would not go along. Would they today?

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press. He may be reached at jthompson@taii.com.

* * *

••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.