The New Republic Daily
Report
04/18/11
Can American Democracy Survive the Demise of Impartial Institutions? John B. Judis *|FACEBOOK:LIKE:http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/86344/impartial-supreme-court-democracy-america|*
The day after I arrived in Chicago to cover the mayoral
debate, an Appeals Court removed frontrunner Rahm Emanuel’s name from the
ballot. The decision, which reversed findings by the Chicago Elections Board and
a Circuit Court judge, ignored more than 150 years of Illinois election law in
denying that Emanuel met the residence requirements for a mayoral
candidate.
Not surprisingly, the ruling drew outrage. The Chicago Tribune reported that the two judges on the three-person court who had ruled against Emanuel had gotten their jobs through the powerful alderman Ed Burke, who was backing one of Emanuel’s opponents in the election. Speculation was rife that the seven-person Illinois Supreme Court, which included three Republicans and a Democrat who happened to be Burke’s wife, would let the ruling stand. This was Chicago, after all, where politics reigns supreme.
But then, something odd happened—something I wasn’t expecting. Three days later, the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously threw out the Appeals Court ruling. “The novel standard adopted by the appellate court majority is without any foundation in Illinois law,” the majority opinion declared.
Emanuel went on to win the election, but that’s not the reason this event stayed with me. The court’s decision was so surprising because, in recent years, we’ve come to expect judges to vote along partisan, or at least highly ideological, lines. In ruling for Emanuel, the Illinois Supreme Court had done something increasingly rare for any institution in American politics: It had acted disinterestedly.
Continue reading "Can American Democracy Survive..."
Why Are Conservatives, Not Liberals, Fixated on Amending the Constitution? Jeffrey Rosen *|FACEBOOK:LIKE:http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/86905/constitution-amendment-conservatives-united-states|*
Wine Stains, Ink Smears, and Water Spots: The Haggadah and Passover Memories Adam Kirsch *|FACEBOOK:LIKE:http://www.tnr.com/book/review/washington-haggadah-joel-ben-simeon|*
04/18/11
Can American Democracy Survive the Demise of Impartial Institutions? John B. Judis *|FACEBOOK:LIKE:http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/86344/impartial-supreme-court-democracy-america|*
The day after I arrived in Chicago to cover the mayoral
debate, an Appeals Court removed frontrunner Rahm Emanuel’s name from the
ballot. The decision, which reversed findings by the Chicago Elections Board and
a Circuit Court judge, ignored more than 150 years of Illinois election law in
denying that Emanuel met the residence requirements for a mayoral
candidate.Not surprisingly, the ruling drew outrage. The Chicago Tribune reported that the two judges on the three-person court who had ruled against Emanuel had gotten their jobs through the powerful alderman Ed Burke, who was backing one of Emanuel’s opponents in the election. Speculation was rife that the seven-person Illinois Supreme Court, which included three Republicans and a Democrat who happened to be Burke’s wife, would let the ruling stand. This was Chicago, after all, where politics reigns supreme.
But then, something odd happened—something I wasn’t expecting. Three days later, the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously threw out the Appeals Court ruling. “The novel standard adopted by the appellate court majority is without any foundation in Illinois law,” the majority opinion declared.
Emanuel went on to win the election, but that’s not the reason this event stayed with me. The court’s decision was so surprising because, in recent years, we’ve come to expect judges to vote along partisan, or at least highly ideological, lines. In ruling for Emanuel, the Illinois Supreme Court had done something increasingly rare for any institution in American politics: It had acted disinterestedly.
Continue reading "Can American Democracy Survive..."
Why Are Conservatives, Not Liberals, Fixated on Amending the Constitution? Jeffrey Rosen *|FACEBOOK:LIKE:http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/86905/constitution-amendment-conservatives-united-states|*
Wine Stains, Ink Smears, and Water Spots: The Haggadah and Passover Memories Adam Kirsch *|FACEBOOK:LIKE:http://www.tnr.com/book/review/washington-haggadah-joel-ben-simeon|*
