Lawmakers Chip Away at Courts’ Authority

Re “House OKs Bill to Limit Federal Court Rulings on Gay Marriage,” July 23: Last week, the House of Representatives voted to single out one class of people -- gay couples -- and deny them the right to a day in federal court.

What’s not so well known is that this is just the latest in a series of recent attacks on the power of the courts. Lawmakers have threatened to deny courts the ability to hear cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance or courtroom religious displays. One bill would allow Congress to reverse any Supreme Court decision striking down a law on constitutional grounds. Other legislators are threatening to impeach judges over decisions they don’t like.

Judges are democracy’s referees. Tearing down the courts that protect our rights, or threatening impeachment over unpopular decisions, can only weaken what Chief Justice William Rehnquist rightly calls the “crown jewel” of our democracy.

Bert Brandenburg

Acting Executive Director

Justice at Stake, Washington