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Obstruction Of Justice State and federal courts are jammed with cases primarily because they have been made into drug law processing centers. In the federal judicial system the situation has been worsened primarily due to the efforts of Senator John Ashcroft, (R-MO), and a few of his like-minded colleagues who are resisting confirmation of judges submitted by the current Administration. The Senate has confirmed only 23 of the 73 men and women Bill Clinton has nominated for District and Appellate judgeship . The two main reasons Ashcroft is resisting these nominees is that the Republican dominated Senate wants a highly conservative judiciary-as if it doesn't have one already-and for his own political agenda. "I look for federal judges who will defend the Constitution, not amend the Constitution," Ashcroft has said. We of the November Coalition submit that it is the conservative judiciary which has in the last three decades rubber stamped some of the most constitutional, Bill of Rights-killing decisions in the history of this country. We have witnessed the spread of mandatory urine testing, the handing of what was formerly called Border Search Authority to every cop in the country and the laminating of the preponderance of evidence standard over the beyond a reasonable doubt standard in criminal cases which has led to the lunacy of sentencing people for acquitted conduct. Ashcroft's second reason for resisting appointment of federal judges has to do with simple careerism. He desires to run for the presidency and believes that obstruction of justice will help his campaign. "We are making business as usual impossible," said Steve Hilton, spokesman for Ashcroft. Business as usual once consisted of a constitutionally mandated federal judiciary, but apparently now it does not. |
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