This week in Wisconsin, a county judge ruled that the state budget law that takes away collective bargaining rights from some state employees was voted on without the proper 24 hour notice that gives all state senators a chance to be included in the vote. (Wisconsin judge ruling) This article shows the power of the judicial system in the United States. The chances this will actually work are pretty slim, but the judge used what power she has to stop a bill that was very controversial in the state. The judge only responded to a law suit that was filed by state Democrats. Again we see how a group can take a political situation and use the courts to forward a political agenda.
We also have seen many judges use their power in corrupt ways. When I think of corrupt judges, I think of the movie "The Untouchables" with Kevin Costner and Sean Connery. It's based on prohibition and the rule of Al Capone of the underworld of Chicago. This period of time is considered one of the bloodiest and most corrupt periods of time in U.S. history. Judges were bought and rulings went the direction of the criminals. People with enough money could do whatever they wanted. Things haven't changed too much. People with money still pay for judgements, they just do it in different ways. The corruption cases in Pennsylvania prove that judges can still be bought. The biggest problem with the judicial system is the ability to be unbiased. This is a problem that can not be fixed. The only changes that might possibly be made would be the election of judges which goes against the idea of the Constitution.
One other thing I want to discuss is the death penalty. I, even as liberal as I am, believe that the death penalty should be used in certain cases. Sexual molestation of a child under 10 is one. My father always complained that criminals should be punished the same as the crime they committed. In today's world, with the amount of crime perpetrated, our jails are full. People sit on death row for years. Non-violent crimes make up the majority of the offenders. We should focus on violent crimes and change the way non-violent crimes are judged. All of this is just talk though. We need reform in our court systems just like we need reform in every other aspect of our government. Hopefully, soon, some changes will be made that benefit everybody.
We also have seen many judges use their power in corrupt ways. When I think of corrupt judges, I think of the movie "The Untouchables" with Kevin Costner and Sean Connery. It's based on prohibition and the rule of Al Capone of the underworld of Chicago. This period of time is considered one of the bloodiest and most corrupt periods of time in U.S. history. Judges were bought and rulings went the direction of the criminals. People with enough money could do whatever they wanted. Things haven't changed too much. People with money still pay for judgements, they just do it in different ways. The corruption cases in Pennsylvania prove that judges can still be bought. The biggest problem with the judicial system is the ability to be unbiased. This is a problem that can not be fixed. The only changes that might possibly be made would be the election of judges which goes against the idea of the Constitution.
One other thing I want to discuss is the death penalty. I, even as liberal as I am, believe that the death penalty should be used in certain cases. Sexual molestation of a child under 10 is one. My father always complained that criminals should be punished the same as the crime they committed. In today's world, with the amount of crime perpetrated, our jails are full. People sit on death row for years. Non-violent crimes make up the majority of the offenders. We should focus on violent crimes and change the way non-violent crimes are judged. All of this is just talk though. We need reform in our court systems just like we need reform in every other aspect of our government. Hopefully, soon, some changes will be made that benefit everybody.
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