Local Attorney Says State’s On Witch Hunt Against Justice

Spokane attorney Robert R. Rowley has a word for the state Commission on Judicial Conduct’s inquiry regarding state Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders.

“The term ‘witch hunt’ is the only appropriate term that can be used,” Rowley wrote in response to last Thursday’s “Bagpipes.”

Sanders is accused of violating the Judicial Code of Conduct by attending and addressing an anti-abortion rally in 1996.

“In the most recent edition of the Washington State Bar News, the trade magazine of all Washington lawyers, the editor wrote a short column on this investigation,” Rowley said.

“After the standard statement about being pro-abortion, the editor went on to demonstrate how the commission’s actions have been very selective. In the past, other justices on the court have attended rallies and meetings sponsored by various causes and never has anyone ever questioned the justices’ activities,” Rowley wrote. “This investigation never would have occurred had Sanders attended a gay-rights or animal-rights rally.”

Rowley also cited U.S. Supreme Court justices who openly have expressed political beliefs without being challenged on ethical grounds.

Justice William O. Douglas, Rowley recalled, “was legendary for his support of liberal causes and he never was sanctioned for his activities. More recently, Justice Antonin Scalia was criticized, though not sanctioned, for several speeches he gave which implicated cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Rowley called it both unrealistic and dangerous to expect judges to be without opinions.

“What we should expect are judges who are willing to set aside those opinions, no matter how firmly held, to hear both sides of the argument and render a judicial ruling based upon the merits of the argument,” Rowley said.

Swapping syringes

After “Bagpipes” asked in February about federal support for needle-exchange programs, Tom Hawkins of Grand Coulee replied: “Several thousand people die yearly of AIDS and other illnesses related to the sharing of contaminated needles. Any plan that does not allow federal money to be used for needle-exchange programs, which have been proved to help stop the spread of these illnesses, is a plan for more American deaths and higher taxpayer burden due to health care costs.”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone, or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.