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laserhaas

(7,805 posts) Fri Mar 23, 2018, 08:51 AM Mar 2018

Republican chief justice of Pa. Supreme Court scolds GOP over impeachment threat

Source: The HILL

Link to tweet

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The chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court scolded Republican state lawmakers on Thursday, after they filed impeachment resolutions against four Democratic justices over the court's decision on the state's congressional map.

Chief Justice Thomas Saylor, a Republican, said in a statement that he was concerned by the impeachment resolutions, which he called "an attack upon an independent judiciary."

"Threats of impeachment directed against Justices because of their decision in a particular case are an attack upon an independent judiciary, which is an essential component of our constitutional plan of government," he said.

A dozen Republicans in the Pennsylvania state House moved on Tuesday to impeach four of the court's five Democratic justices, filing articles of impeachment alleging that they exceeded their authority in striking down Pennsylvania's congressional map.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/379897-republican-chief-justice-of-pa-supreme-court-scolds-gop-over-impeachment?amp&__twitter_impression=true

12 replies

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Republican chief justice of Pa. Supreme Court scolds GOP over impeachment threat (Original Post) laserhaas Mar 2018 OP

Exceeded their authority?! Fullduplexxx Mar 2018 #1

Ah, but they won't get away with it, not this time. lagomorph777 Mar 2018 #3

those 4 need to be removed from office for exceeding their authority onetexan Mar 2018 #11

Republicans didn't listen to John Roberts NewJeffCT Mar 2018 #2

They only like the judges.............. MyOwnPeace Mar 2018 #4

What these articles never actually say angrychair Mar 2018 #5

that is what I worry about Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2018 #8

The republicans have a solid majority in the state house of delegates onenote Mar 2018 #10

Thank you! angrychair Mar 2018 #12

It was a whole court decision sdfernando Mar 2018 #6

No it wasn't. onenote Mar 2018 #9

the voters of PA will probably cast final judgement on republicans come Nov.... beachbum bob Mar 2018 #7

Fullduplexxx

(7,865 posts)

1. Exceeded their authority?!

Reply to laserhaas (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 08:54 AM

Mar 2018

Htf do they get away with this sht

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)

3. Ah, but they won't get away with it, not this time.

Reply to Fullduplexxx (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 09:10 AM

Mar 2018

The end of Gerrymandering will spell the end of many of their careers.

onetexan

(13,043 posts)

11. those 4 need to be removed from office for exceeding their authority

Reply to Fullduplexxx (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 06:37 PM

Mar 2018

NewJeffCT

(56,828 posts)

2. Republicans didn't listen to John Roberts

Reply to laserhaas (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 08:55 AM

Mar 2018

when he asked them to allow a vote on Merrick Garland.

MyOwnPeace

(16,928 posts)

4. They only like the judges..............

Reply to laserhaas (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 09:27 AM

Mar 2018

when they vote/rule in their favor (see: Supreme Court - 2000 election - Bush v. Gore)

angrychair

(8,702 posts)

5. What these articles never actually say

Reply to laserhaas (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 10:20 AM

Mar 2018

Is if there is enough support in PA legislature to actually impeach these justices or not. Does anyone know?

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,356 posts)

8. that is what I worry about

Reply to angrychair (Reply #5)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 05:39 PM

Mar 2018

It's obvious the GOPers do not want an independent judiciary; they hate our form of government.

onenote

(42,715 posts)

10. The republicans have a solid majority in the state house of delegates

Reply to angrychair (Reply #5)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 06:07 PM

Mar 2018

and are within one vote of a 2/3 majority in the state senate. In theory, they could get the majority vote needed in the state house, but it might be tough to get a 2/3 majority to convict in the Senate.

This isn't the first time that a Pennsylvania repub has tried impeachment based on a policy disagreement rather than actual misconduct. There was a failed attempt in 2013-2014 to impeach the state attorney general when she refused to defend the state's ban on same sex marriage because she believed it was unconstitutional. That effort went nowhere despite the republican majority in the state house. (It should be noted that the state Attorney General later was accused of, tried, and found guilty of actual misconduct in office and resigned before she could be impeached).

angrychair

(8,702 posts)

12. Thank you!

Reply to onenote (Reply #10)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 07:05 PM

Mar 2018

That was extremely informative and helpful in actually understanding what is going on there

sdfernando

(4,935 posts)

6. It was a whole court decision

Reply to laserhaas (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 11:11 AM

Mar 2018

The logical action would be to try to impeach ALL of them...by going after only 4 DEMS their agenda is patently clear.

onenote

(42,715 posts)

9. No it wasn't.

Reply to sdfernando (Reply #6)

Fri Mar 23, 2018, 06:02 PM

Mar 2018

There are seven members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Five are Democrats, two are Republicans. The five Democrats sided against the two Republicans in striking down the previous districting map. One of the Democrats joined with the two Republicans in opposing the adoption of a new map before the November elections. The four Democrats that made up the majority in the 4-3 decision on when to implement a new map are the four that are being targeted.

beachbum bob

(10,437 posts)

7. the voters of PA will probably cast final judgement on republicans come Nov....