WTF??!-- "JAIL 4 Judges" ballot initiative in South Dakota

[TexasLawyer]

An overview of the state ballot initiatives being pushed by advocates for more "judicial accountability" of "activist judges":


FROM THE OCTOBER 27, 2006 ABA JOURNAL eReport
Voting on the Law
States have referenda on judicial recall, lawsuits, term limits

By Molly McDonough


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Outside of Colorado (Terms limits for judges), the judicial ballot initiative getting the most attention is in South Dakota, where voters will decide on Amendment E, aka "JAIL 4 Judges." The initiative would abolish judicial immunity and allow litigants to sue judges for a number of reasons, including intentionally violating due process rights and "deliberate disregard of material facts."

Amendment E would create special grand juries made up of civilians who would decide whether a case against a judge may go forward.

The initiative has sparked a heated battle between proponents, who view the measure as a way to make judges more accountable, and opponents, who say it will intimidate judges and threaten their independence. It is one that imposes, according to the No on E Web site, "a Frankensteinish new piece of government called the ‘Special Grand Jury’ that would effectively end due process and threaten your constitutional rights by giving jurors the power to ignore or reject the law."

Montana’s Constitutional Initiative No. 98, or CI-98, would allow residents to petition for the recall of judges "for any reason."

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http://www.abanet.org/journal/redesign/oc30ballot.html

[acmejack]

1. Is there something in the air up there?

[ClintonTyree]

2. Like the everyday people comprising these.........

"special Grand Juries" have an understanding of law and would be able to wade through all of the Constitutional intricacies. :eyes: They sure are trying to pass some dumb laws in those red states. This SHOULD be embarrassing to the citizens of South Dakota. Unfortunately, it isn't.