Republican lawmakers from Orange County announced formation...

Republican lawmakers from Orange County announced formation of a “Bird Watchers Society,” aimed at ousting Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird and three other state Supreme Court justices. Their campaign is the latest of several efforts aimed against Bird and Associate Justices Joseph Grodin, Cruz Reynoso and Stanley Mosk, who go before voters in a 1986 confirmation vote on 12-year terms. Rep. William Dannemeyer of Fullerton, Assemblyman Ross Johnson of La Habra and state Sen. John Seymour of Anaheim said at a Capitol news conference that the justices’ decisions--particularly in death penalty cases--have opposed “the will of the people.” Senate Republican Leader James W. Nielsen of Woodland said he intends to join the campaign. A group called Crime Victims for Court Reform has also called for Bird’s resignation, launching a “Bye-Bye Birdie” campaign against what they call her pro-defense bias in criminal cases.