Primary Politics ‘Bankrupt,’ Bird Declares

California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird told a national television audience Tuesday that the state’s primary elections have been characterized by “bankrupt” political practices which she said she intends to avoid in conducting her own reelection campaign.

Speaking on ABC’s “Nightline” program, Bird said she did not believe she was out of step with California voters, despite public opinion polls that show her to be in grave political trouble. And she said she was confident that the kind of campaign she hopes to conduct--”direct dialogue with the people”--would lead to her reconfirmation in November.

Bird said she believed that the expected low turnout by voters for the primary is an indication that they are tired of the sort of mean spirited and superficial campaigning which she said has come to dominate statewide politics, including the campaign against her.

Bird said that the point of her campaign, which is not yet under way, will be to explain to people the role of the judiciary.

The message that she said wants to get across to voters is that role of the court is to uphold the rule of law, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights even if that means rendering unpopular decisions.

“We don’t kowtow to whatever group is powerful at the moment,” she said.

Bird was asked by “Nightline” anchorman Ted Koppel whether she was philosophically opposed to the death penalty. Bird did not answer the question directly. Instead, she said that in voting to reverse the death penalty 54 times, “I was never alone.” Most of the court’s death penalty reversals were either unanimous or 6-1.