In an aggressive email, Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden took former Clallam Commissioner Bill Peach to task over public comments criticizing the judicial appointment process.
He finds criticism of the appointment “disheartening” “unfair” and sends an email, cc’s all the bench, titles it “judicial independence”. He clearly didn’t understand our independent judiciary. The Judicial Canon 1.2 states clearly that a judge must expect and accept harsh scrutiny. No one person’s criticism weakens the independence of the judiciary, to the contrary, the judiciary stands independently despite the criticism. We need some smarter judges.
As an attorney and former Callam County Commissioner who has followed or been involved in Clallam County politics for over 50 years, I can assure you that it has always been assumed that judges retiring before the end of their term is to allow the Governor to appoint their successor. And this is no coincidence. It is a practice associated with the age-old debate as to whether judges should be appointed or elected. Having them appointed to fill a vacancy and then having them stand for election is thought by some to be a middle ground between the two extremes. Why a specific judge retires early can never be known with certainty, but it is fair to believe that in the bigger picture most judges do retire early for this reason. While I have not been known to be a staunch supporter of former County Commissioner Bill Peach, and to stand up for the office of a County Commissioner, I have to say Bill was well within his rights to express his opinion as reported in this article by The Olympic Hearld. I suppose Judge Basden was well within his rights to express his opinion regarding Bill Peach's statement, but I think it was an error to do so.
ONLY Inslee appointed more than 250 judges, the most of any state, any governor, EVER. Most states have a better system (often hybrid) -- which uses a merit selection system (Missouri Plan) where a commission nominates, governor appoints, OR the system where a judge appointment must be confirmed by a council or legislature. The best is where the legislature appoints judges. Washington State relied on elected judges, but put no thought to stopping a renegade governor from appointing whomever he felt like appointing (politically aligned with his views). We've forgotten country over party, something George Washington warned us about.
Anthony, with your tireless investigations and selfless effort you are personally being attacked by the very system you are exposing. It's time to make a stand. Your asking for help is not just reasonable but needed:
"I’m 100% reader-supported, with zero corporate backing. Right now, this publication is facing an unconstitutional legal attack from an associate of Judge Brent Basden, who is demanding coercive fines of up to $2,000 a day to force the removal of articles just like this one. To help fund this legal fight and protect free speech, please consider a paid subscription or a one-time GoFundMe donation"
The LDS, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Largest church adhering to Mormonism) is a powerful, secretive and a vengeful group. You are exposing some of their members, they will not sit back. I was waiting for retaliation. I think it has already started. I personally would question any comments made on Olympic Herald to discredit you. IMO, comments should be backed up with proof in order to be believable.
He finds criticism of the appointment “disheartening” “unfair” and sends an email, cc’s all the bench, titles it “judicial independence”. He clearly didn’t understand our independent judiciary. The Judicial Canon 1.2 states clearly that a judge must expect and accept harsh scrutiny. No one person’s criticism weakens the independence of the judiciary, to the contrary, the judiciary stands independently despite the criticism. We need some smarter judges.
As an attorney and former Callam County Commissioner who has followed or been involved in Clallam County politics for over 50 years, I can assure you that it has always been assumed that judges retiring before the end of their term is to allow the Governor to appoint their successor. And this is no coincidence. It is a practice associated with the age-old debate as to whether judges should be appointed or elected. Having them appointed to fill a vacancy and then having them stand for election is thought by some to be a middle ground between the two extremes. Why a specific judge retires early can never be known with certainty, but it is fair to believe that in the bigger picture most judges do retire early for this reason. While I have not been known to be a staunch supporter of former County Commissioner Bill Peach, and to stand up for the office of a County Commissioner, I have to say Bill was well within his rights to express his opinion as reported in this article by The Olympic Hearld. I suppose Judge Basden was well within his rights to express his opinion regarding Bill Peach's statement, but I think it was an error to do so.
ONLY Inslee appointed more than 250 judges, the most of any state, any governor, EVER. Most states have a better system (often hybrid) -- which uses a merit selection system (Missouri Plan) where a commission nominates, governor appoints, OR the system where a judge appointment must be confirmed by a council or legislature. The best is where the legislature appoints judges. Washington State relied on elected judges, but put no thought to stopping a renegade governor from appointing whomever he felt like appointing (politically aligned with his views). We've forgotten country over party, something George Washington warned us about.
Anthony, with your tireless investigations and selfless effort you are personally being attacked by the very system you are exposing. It's time to make a stand. Your asking for help is not just reasonable but needed:
"I’m 100% reader-supported, with zero corporate backing. Right now, this publication is facing an unconstitutional legal attack from an associate of Judge Brent Basden, who is demanding coercive fines of up to $2,000 a day to force the removal of articles just like this one. To help fund this legal fight and protect free speech, please consider a paid subscription or a one-time GoFundMe donation"
The LDS, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Largest church adhering to Mormonism) is a powerful, secretive and a vengeful group. You are exposing some of their members, they will not sit back. I was waiting for retaliation. I think it has already started. I personally would question any comments made on Olympic Herald to discredit you. IMO, comments should be backed up with proof in order to be believable.