Conservative Spokesman Urges Congress to Restrain Runaway Judiciary
by Bill Fancher
February 20, 2004
(AgapePress) - America is not a judicial oligarchy, where putting on a black robe somehow confers upon judges powers not found in the U.S. Constitution. But that is what Declaration Foundation chairman Alan Keyes says is happening more and more in America, and he wants the nation rise up against judicial tyranny.Conservative activists, members of Congress, and now even White House officials are voicing concern over activist judges who are legislating from the bench. But Keyes, a seasoned statesman and former presidential candidate, feels it is time to rein in runaway activist judges and justices.
"There is a difference between constitutional government and judicial dictatorship," Keyes says, "and I think it's time we remembered that our Constitution was not put together in order to establish the sovereignty of the judges."
The constitutional scholar notes that it is happening all too often, from school prayer to the Ten Commandments to the Pledge of Allegiance -- judges ruling in violation of the first phrase in the Bill of Rights that says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
"It means what it says," Keyes explains, "and what it says is there can be no federal law that deals with the subject of religious establishment. What it means, therefore, is that if you're sitting on the federal benchm you've got no lawful basis for addressing or interfering with this issue."
Nevertheless, Keyes says activist judges are ruling on religious issues by seizing authority in an area where they clearly have no right to be. But he points out that the U.S. legislature has the power to limit judicial jurisdiction so that judges and justices could no longer rule on any religious issue.
Although the U.S. Constitution was framed to guarantee the sovereignty of the people, Keyes says that sovereignty is being usurped today by black-robed dictators. He wants to see Congress take action and limit areas of jurisdiction, and he says he would also like to see recalls of many judges and justices.
