Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel writes to Mass Lawyer’s Weekly – and AmberPaw comments

April 23, 2008 By AmberPaw

First, the courts are the major protection of liberty, and of the rights of minorities of all varieties against the tyranny of the majority.  Without an independent judiciary, same sex marriage would not be the law in our State, for example.  

Therefore,  the appointment of intelligent and courageous individuals as judges is critical to the health of democracy.  This issue will be critical on the national level given the age of several supreme court justices.  

Further, Governor Patrick, this year,  asked for funding of indigent defense realistically, so that the payment for those private attorneys who accept court appointment will not run out, leaving them working without being paid for months.  I have a bias – I do some court appointed work in my practice and I do like to be paid on time.  Doesn’t everyone?

However,  there are vacancies on several benches that are impacting justice.  There does not seem to be a shortage of attorney’s applying to become justices of the Probate and Family court [just for example] but several counties are down two or more judges.  

However, I agree with Chief Legal Counsel Clements.  Governor Patrick is no disappointment to the Bar – in fact, compared to Governor Romney who hated attorneys and despised independence in our judiciary – Governor Patrick is a star of Oscar winning magnitude.

Maybe it is all relative, and the problem is NOT the performance of Governor Deval Patrick, but the high expectations from Deval Patrick’s stellar campaign message.

After all, Governor Romney dissolved the Judicial Nominating Commission in favor of strongman rule [his] – and Governor Patrick reconstituted this democratic institution – but democracy is not necessarily the speed lane, reasoned, collegial analysis takes time.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: ben-clements, chief-legal-counsel, court-appointed-attorneys, courts, deval-patrick, independent-judiciary, indigent-defense, mitt-romney, same-sex-marriage

Comments

  1. peabody says

    April 24, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    Note to File:  If Deval’s administration makes poor progress, just compare it to Romney’s days.  Deval can’t help but fare better than a one-termer.

    <

    p>Oh, Romney used Massachusetts.  Deval is just doing the same.

    <

    p>But seriously, if the is a judicial emergency then Deval sshould correct things.

    <

    p>

  2. cadmium says

    April 25, 2008 at 8:39 am

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on A valedictoryI joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on A valedictoryThat’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2025 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.