An 'Independent Judiciary', Democrat style

While sifting through all the bombastic, chest-thumping pedantry from Democrats (and some Republicans) I unearthed this lil gemstone which sheds a great deal of light on the Democrats' notion of an 'independent' judiciary, insulated from the vicissitudes of partisan politics:

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Supreme Court watchers often speculate about aging justices holding off retirement until the election of a president who will pick an ideologically similar replacement.

Some conservatives are now questioning whether a federal district judge in South Dakota is doing the same thing – and getting help from two colleagues who have taken on some of his cases.

U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann, 69, put off his retirement after two fellow Democratic judges agreed to share his workload, a move that could allow someone from their party to get Kornmann's job if a Democrat is elected president in 2008.

Kornmann and one of the other judges acknowledged the arrangement in interviews with The Associated Press. Joseph Haas, the federal clerk of court for South Dakota, also confirmed that some of Kornmann's caseload was reallocated last fall.

Kornmann, who handles cases in Aberdeen and Pierre for the northern and central sections of the state, said he could have reduced his caseload and become a senior judge last fall. But he stayed on full-time after U.S. District Judges Karen Schreier in Rapid City and Lawrence Piersol in Sioux Falls took on about two-thirds of the criminal cases in Pierre.

Democratic President Bill Clinton appointed all three in the 1990s.

“The other judges don't want me to retire,” Kornmann said. “I don't plan to do anything for a time. I could have taken senior status in September but in view of them helping out that much, I decided not to do it.”

When asked why they helped, Kornmann joked: “They think I'm such a wonderful judge. It has nothing to do with who the president is.”

He added: "It might have something to do it."

This disgusting lout, suckling off the taxpayer's teet, defies even the appearance of independence and impartiality and then has the audacity to be ever so coy about it. Where are the subpoenas, committee hearings, calls for resignations?

IMPEACH KORNMANN

Hat tip: Talk host Mark Levin