Why is a liberal judged labeled a "activist judge"...?

Question

.... and a conservative isn't, when they rule with their obvious bias?

Excuse the spelling on "judge" as "judged" in the initial question. I already know that I did a typo, so thanks in advance for not criticizing me for it.

For those of you who say that conservative judges are more mindful of the Constitution, that's a FLAT OUT LIE. Have you ever watched Judge Judy? She as a self-proclaimed conservative judge, and there are many judges like her all over the South. I happen to know that in Texas, the Constitution is hardly taken into consideration when administering justice.

Answer 1

^ I guess that's why Dubya refers to the Constitution as a god damned piece of paper. Interesting.

When President Bush, other politicians and right-wing groups talk about “activist judges” who overreach to rule in favor of equal rights for gay people, they’re misleading the American people. “Activist judge” is nothing more than a label used to smear a judge who takes the Constitution and fairness seriously rather than ruling in favor of the right-wing agenda. It's all about defamatory labeling.

Answer 2

Basically, any time a judge rules in a way somebody in power doesn't like, they get called an activist.

But if you want to read an interesting article on the subject (link below), the 4th Federal Appellate Circuit recently ruled in two cases that schools must distribute Christian literature, because Christianity is a main-stream religion, but that towns have the right to exclude minority religions because they are not main-stream.

Or the Illinois judge that ordered two parents not to raise their child according to the parent's Wiccan beliefs, instead requiring the parents to raise their child only in a "mainstream religion".

If that isn't an activist judge, then the term has no meaning.

Answer 3

An activist judge is a judge that does more than what the job of a judge is to do.

The judges are merely to interpret the law, not to change it. An activist judge is one who adds "rights" to those not in the constitution (such as the "right" to not have the government keep a list of your phone calls).

While the above is probably a good idea for a law, it currently ISNT law, so when a judge rules that NSA actions are unconstitutional, the judge is usurping the authority of the legislative branch, i.e. making laws.

Answer 4

An activist judge is a judge who is perceived as legislating from the bench. Not all liberal judges are activists. But most activist judges seem to be liberals these day. So that's why.

Love, Jack.

Answer 5

Activist judges make law. They're called "activists" because they're taking over the job of the legislatures instead of simply interpreting what the law says.

Answer 6

because anyone who isn't conservative must be an activist....


oh yeah and for the first person who answered here....if we were to stick with what is written in the constitution....a lot of americans would still be worth 3/5ths of a person....

Answer 7

Conservative judges tend to follow case law and the written letter of the law. Liberal judges tend to "interpret" the law to bend the rules therefore legislating from the bench.

Answer 8

Because a Liberal by his or her nature is considered an activist.
Conservatives are considered staunchy and resistant to change. Activist judges tend to legislate not by case law or history, but from there own personal belief system.

Answer 9

Goose&Tonic is correct. It should be noted that Liberal judges sometimes want to stick with the law thats there and sometimes conservative judges want to change the law (ie Abortion).

Answer 10

Conservatives tend to stick with what is WRITTEN in the Constitiution. Liberals tend to stick with what they WANT written in the Constitution. There is the difference.