Joe, regarding refusal of extensions, the most notable case I can think of (also in California) was that of Chief Justice Rose Bird, SCOTSOC, and two associate justices by voters in 1986 based on their record in overturning capital sentences. Being a politically-minded teen living there in the early 80s, I paid a bit of attention to the 1986 election which saw the refusals. The controversy was a long time brewing.
While I agree with you regarding your point about an independent judiciary, the prospect of six more years of these sorts of miscarriages (he was reconfirmed only this year) is galling. How much damage might he do to the justice system there by practicing his biases through adjudicating the law?
That is something each voter needs to balance against the idea of making judges beholden to public opinion. I have no easy answer, that's for sure.
While I agree with you regarding your point about an independent judiciary, the prospect of six more years of these sorts of miscarriages (he was reconfirmed only this year) is galling. How much damage might he do to the justice system there by practicing his biases through adjudicating the law?
That is something each voter needs to balance against the idea of making judges beholden to public opinion. I have no easy answer, that's for sure.
