Scalia’s Message To The Media
Posted on March 30, 2006
The Boston Herald are bragging they were right about Scalia’s sign language to them the other day, and come out with the photo.
Ronald A. Cass at Real Clear Politics sums up my feelings on the topic better than I word them.
Scalia’s gesture said, “I’ve got strong views and strong religious beliefs, but as a judge I follow the law - and I’m not going to spend time explaining myself to others; now leave me alone.” Of course, giving the gesture a more colorful meaning makes a better story. But for those looking to have something to say, anything connected to the accusation would be enough.
The implication that Scalia, as a devout Catholic, would follow Catholic dogma, rather than the law, is deeply offensive. Its offensive to Scalia, a long-serving, respected jurist and devotee of the rule of law. It’s offensive to Catholics, a replay of the attacks on John F. Kennedy, who, opponents whispered, would as President be subservient to the Pope.
More to the point, it’s offensive to our legal system. Our system works because judges are insulated against ordinary political forces, are subject to a whole series of checks on how they decide cases, and are supposed to come to the cases as impartial decision-makers - not as blank slates, but as men and women who have not pre-committed their votes. That is essential to the rule of law.
Read the whole thing
Whatever message Scalia was trying to convey to the stalking media here, I’m pretty sure I agree with it.
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4 Responses to “Scalia’s Message To The Media”
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Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but this one can’t tell us which direction the Justice’s hand was traveling. Was he bring it toward himself as to say, “come here”? Was he scratching his chin maybe? Or could it be what the very liberal Boston Herald and their “photographer” say? I’m apt to believe the Justice over those “media” people. They’ll print anything to sell more papers.
Well I sure hope it is what they say, cuz I completely agree with it. I would be disappointed if it were just a chin scratch.
I’m just raising a reasonable doubt, after all, we are talking about accusations against a lawyer and a judge who has achieved the highest level of his profession. He makes decisions every day which impact the lives of every American. I just thought it was worth a worthy defense. (I’m playing lawyer again)
Or how about this one? With his eyes closed and no hankerchief in his pocket, perhaps he was sneezing and raising his hand to block the spread of germs. Anything is possible, right?