Democracy Fire in the belly

Unless journalists and judges are doing their job, our democracy is in deep trouble, and perhaps cannot even survive. Walter Cronkite.

Don't forget, Some People are white collar criminals disguised as politicians

Court Makes Criminal Referral on Republican/Bush Administration Threat Against Judicial Watch

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, reported today that a federal court judge said he would refer allegations of threats against Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Judicial Watch learned through various sources that Republicans and the Bush Administration were improperly investigating Klayman and seeking to have him jailed. Earlier, a Bush Justice Department official had told conservative columnist Robert Novak, in the context of Judicial Watch's lawsuits against the Administration, What are we going to do about this Klayman? As it is criminal to threaten individuals and coerce attorneys in litigation, Judicial Watch asked the judge hearing its case against Vice President Cheney's Energy Task Force, The Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan, to take legal action. In hearings over the last two days, Judge Sullivan said that he would criminally refer the serious allegations to the U.S. Attorney Roscoe Howard for investigation and possible prosecution. . . .
· Without Fear or Favour [Judicial Watch]

The Gospel According to St Michael

Hizzoner Mr Justice Michael Kirby, perhaps the finest Australian legal mind of his generation, is a man of considerable courage. In the early 1960s he didn't hesitate to risk his budding career as a barrister by defending (pro bono) university students who'd performed such outrageous drunken stunts as draping a D-cup bra on one of the Cenotaph's sculpted soldiers.

Pilita Clark of Sydney Morning Herald circa 1999 It would be unthinkable in the United States and unlikely in many other countries. But in Australia the news that a judge from the nation's highest court had declared his homosexuality was greeted with yawning lack of interest. Kirby’s situational courage