May
6
Earlier today I heard a radio host here in Des Moines complaining that those against same sex marriage did not have a valid claim that activist judges were to blame for recent developments (particularly here in Iowa). “So we had activist judges…and now activist legislatures?” was his sarcastic question.
Ugh. Activist judges are a problem. Dismissing a group’s opinion based solely on their stance on a different issue (same sex marriage in this case) doesn’t dimish this fact.
As a supporter of same-sex marriage I freely admit I am not a supporter of how the change was brought about here in Iowa. It is completely true that an activist judge set social policy. Public and social policy should be in the realm of our elected officials, not determined by someone none of us originally selected.
This judge should have forwarded the case to the Iowa Legislature. In this way Iowans would have been able to express their desires. Instead, a judicial appointee made the decision for everyone.
The recent steps taken by New Hampshire and Maine are entirely appropriate, and I praise them for it. The people’s representatives made the choice and change was brought about how our founders imagined it should.
We need to reign in these judges, regardless of their political stance. Their only job is to weigh arguments and determine their validity based on our laws (including the Constitution). Never should their personal beliefs or desires weigh in the decision. It would be a hard job, but that is why we need the best people for it.
Visit the radio host’s site: Bradshaw @ 98.3 WOW-FM
Doesn’t surprise me to heard “activist legislature” out of Bradshaw’s mouth. I listened to him for about 20 minutes on the way from DSM to Ames last week, and I could tell he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.