Supreme Court chief Castille 'shocked' by Smith's attack
Call it inter-branch, intra-party warfare under the Capitol dome: First the state Supreme Court threw out the Republican-crafted legislative district maps. Then last week, the GOP-majority court ordered the state House speaker to call special elections to fill six vacant legislative seats - and told him when to hold them.
Supreme Court chief Castille 'shocked' by Smith's attack
Call it inter-branch, intra-party warfare under the Capitol dome:
First the state Supreme Court threw out the Republican-crafted legislative district maps. Then last week, the GOP-majority court ordered the state House speaker to call special elections to fill six vacant legislative seats — and told him when to hold them.
Enough was enough, said Speaker Sam Smith (R., Jefferson). The court’s majority opinion "seems intent on creating a constitutional collision between two of the three constitutionally created co-equal branches of government," Smith, in an unusual, Federalist Papers-quoting statement. "Make no mistake, they are tipping the scales of power in their own favor."
His tirade came after the court, on a 4-3 vote, ordered the special elections held on the April 24 primary. Smith went on to accuse the court of having an "activist majority" which — in the words of Federalist Paper No. 78 — substituted "their own pleasure to the constitutional intentions of the legislature."
Chief Justice Ronald J. Castille, in an interview Friday voiced dismay at Smith's action. "I am shocked at the nature of the response," said Castille, a Republican. "This is an ad hominem attack on the court's ruling." He added: "We decide issues under the constitution that are brought to us. Issuing an opinion does not make us activist judges.”
Smith said the court, by reverting to 2001 district maps, was short-changing minorities, particularly Hispanics whose population has grown in the past decade. Castille countered that the districts with empty seats (four of which are in Philadelphia and its suburbs) have had no representation since January — "In all, 360,000 people have no voice," he said.
As for the rift between two branches of government, the chief justice said: "We'll get over it."
Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
MAHER IS A COMEDIAN ON CABLE TV...WHO TALKS ABOUT POLITICIANS...AND FAMOUS PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE........ NAME ONE "LIBERAL" THAT HAS GONE AFTER A PRIVATE CITIZEN WITH A PERSONAL ATTACK SIMILAR TO LIMBAUGH....— genius1977
That's great, a completely irrelevent remark about Mahar - these hired Republican operatives really take their marching orders to heart. So excited they are about being good little Republicans - charging forth, no less, to protect one of the most loathsome individuals to ever scream into a microphone. Maher is a comedian - Limbaugh is a major force in the 'conservative movement.' Him attacking a NON public figure for merely testifying is different - not that hard to understand.
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Oh the typical LW hypocrisy; "do as I say; not as I do." Maher is a typical leftist ranter and foul mouth; Limbaugh is a political commentator and entertainer. He did apologize to the woman who wants her free contraceptives-which I disgreed with, but no matter. By the way libs; the moment that your heroine went before her fellow Dem libs in Congress to plead for free contraceptives so that she could continue-and enjoy-her "activities"-she ceased to be a private citizen, and became a public one.— bust6711
- Oh the typical LW hypocrisy; "do as I say; not as I do." Maher is a typical leftist ranter and foul mouth; Limbaugh is a political commentator and entertainer. He did apologize to the woman who wants her free contraceptives-which I disgreed with, but no matter. By the way libs; the moment that your heroine went before her fellow Dem libs in Congress to plead for free contraceptives so that she could continue-and enjoy-her "activities"-she ceased to be a private citizen, and became a public one.— bust6711
- Oh the typical LW hypocrisy; "do as I say; not as I do." Maher is a typical leftist ranter and foul mouth; Limbaugh is a political commentator and entertainer. He did apologize to the woman who wants her free contraceptives-which I disgreed with, but no matter. By the way libs; the moment that your heroine went before her fellow Dem libs in Congress to plead for free contraceptives so that she could continue-and enjoy-her "activities"-she ceased to be a private citizen, and became a public one.— bust6711
- These comments obviously are posted to the wrong article. Wonder which article they should be posted to.— Falls Ed
- I like pie!— jimmymack
