Judge Called Mukasey "Tyrant" At Speech

Wash. Supreme Court Justice Admits Outburst Shortly Before Attorney General Collapsed

(AP)  State Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders says he was speaking his conscience when he stood up and yelled "tyrant!" at U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey last week, during a speech in which Mukasey later fainted.

Mukasey was the keynote speaker at a black-tie dinner Thursday night in Washington, D.C., for The Federalist Society, a conservative legal group. In his speech, Mukasey offered a defense against criticisms about the Bush administration's policies in the war on terrorism.

In a statement released Tuesday, Sanders said he "passionately" disagrees with those policies and felt compelled to say so. Sanders, who is a Federalist Society member, said that he wasn't heckling Mukasey, and left shortly after his outburst.

"I believe we must speak our conscience in moments that demand it, even if we are but one voice," he said in the statement, citing access to the legal system for detainees at Guantanamo Bay and the importance of the Geneva Conventions.

Sanders released the statement after blogs, political TV shows and news reports said that Mukasey had been heckled during the speech and that Sanders might have been the source.

Sanders initially dodged reporters' questions about the incident this week, refusing to comment on anything he might have said at the event.

A video on the Federalist Society's Web site shows that Sanders' outburst came just over 17 minutes into Mukasey's speech, after Mukasey talked about what he said was the "casual assumption among many in media, political and legal circles that the administration's counterterrorism policies have come at the expense of the rule of law."

Shortly after that point on the video, a voice is clearly heard yelling: "Tyrant! You are a tyrant!"

Mukasey can be seen briefly stopping and looking up from his speech. Other members of the audience can be heard shushing the yeller, and another voice is heard saying "sit down."

A few minutes later, Mukasey began shaking and slurring his words. He repeated a phrase - "as a result" - three times and then slumped forward on the podium. His FBI security detail ran to catch him as he fell. He was released from the hospital the next day and his office said he had suffered a fainting spell.

Sanders said he had already left the speech before Mukasey collapsed, and did not learn of it until the next day.

"It should go without saying that, despite our vastly different views on what constitutes upholding the rule of law, I hope he continues to recover and remain in good health," Sanders wrote.

Chief Justice Gerry Alexander said Tuesday that he was very concerned about the outburst's potential damage to Sanders' reputation, and to the court.

Alexander said he planned to speak privately to Sanders to express his disapproval about the incident, but said he has no authority to discipline him.

"People have a First Amendment right to speak, but that's not conduct that I would like to see judges display," Alexander said.

Sanders first was elected to the Supreme Court in a 1995 special election, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2004. He next faces voters in 2010.

Sanders, a self-described conservative and defender of individual freedoms, is known for his sometimes passionate dissenting opinions. His personal biography says that, as a judge, he "regards protection of our constitutionally guaranteed liberties as the first duty of our highest court."

In 2005, Sanders was given an admonishment - the lightest possible punishment - by the state Judicial Conduct Commission for touring Washington's sex predator commitment center at McNeil Island while residents had appeals pending.

The commission said Sanders went to the center, which houses sex offenders who are kept in custody indefinitely after their prison sentences are served, at the invitation of some inmates.

Officials said Sanders told the inmates he couldn't talk about their specific cases, but accepted documents from some and brought up issues that were before the court, including that of "volitional control" - whether sex predators can control their criminal impulses.

Sanders appealed his admonishment all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to review his case.

He previously was cleared of breaking judicial canons of ethics for attending an anti-abortion rally at the state Capitol.

[mrmeatspin]

libeals are very tolerant,, as long as they dont loose in elections..then they comeout with boycott and blacklists..and hide behind freedom of expression..

[renojmc]

Posted by nowaymcgoo at 04:27 PM : Nov 28, 2008
-------------

That''s a load of ***. That''s a generalization of psychological thought process. Political conservatives frequently want change. They want smaller government, reduced taxes, a strong defense, and more personal responsibility - generally the opposite of that sought by liberals.

Get your facts straight.

[bjcone8559]

Independent thought is a mark of a true conservative. Further, we are usually much more tolerant than many liberals.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by machineguy


I am noticing that your most recent posts have a softer quality, and I realize you are attempting to be more reasonable. However, I feel compelled to once again suggest that you do a little reading. There are actually four levels of sociopolitical thought in our democracy. Radical, liberal, conservative and reactionary.

Radicals are those who believe in anarchy, liberals look forward to change, conservatives resist change (want things to stay as they are), and reactionaries long for things to be returned as they were in the past.

If you are truly an independent thinker, I applaud you. But, if that is the case, you are by no means a ''conservative'' by standard definition.

[ioweign]

I am not part of that "we" either. I think the "Patriot Act" is the most laughable misnomer in history. Patriot my a**. Bush, prodded by Cheney, made one of the most bald power grabs in our history. It was an evil adminstration.

Posted by kansas1946 at 10:05 PM : Nov 26, 2008

I agree. The sooner these criminals are gone the better.

Posted by johndevinejr at 07:52 AM : Nov 27, 2008

+1

[ioweign]

now i wonder if State Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders would allow me to heckle him and call him a liberal ********..

Posted by MrMeatSpin at 02:22 PM : Nov 28, 2008

Sanders, a self-described conservative and defender of individual freedoms, is known for his sometimes passionate dissenting opinions. His personal biography says that, as a judge, he "regards protection of our constitutionally guaranteed liberties as the first duty of our highest court."

#####

A liberal !!!

[earache4]

Old Earwax and several of these other neo-Marxist I see on here might want to be more careful when taking the Lords name in vane, or they may be found with a lightening bolt stuck up their azz.
Posted by Obama_Dkhed at 04:10 AM

God called, He said you need to shut up....and stop playing with yourself in the shower...(I don''t know what he meant by that last part)...

[socialwkr]

It was his right to say what he felt and walk out. Simple statement "tyrant" and he exited. Too bad others who felt that way didnt have the ba**s to follow him out.

[tngreen]

When I first heard about Mukasey''s collapse, I thought it signaled the aging of God, whose eyesight must be failing a bit--a glancing blow rather than a fatal strike. Then with this new information, the story got even better: a conservative with character--who knew? I thought that was an oxymoron. It takes courage to stand up to a tyrant, and wisdom to know that the time to do so is before they start shoving dissidents into ovens, not after. It''s just too bad that there weren''t a lot more Sanderses a lot earlier in this administration.

[earache4]

So God really will strike you down for lying....Mukasey will have to be more careful....

[airboatboy1]

He gets yelled at and drops like a lead balloon! To bad all politicians aren''t like that. What a good time that could be!

[violist47]

Machineguy: wasn''t that Thomas Paine, the radical, with "sunshine patriot"? Many of us most certainly did not agree with these imprisonments "when it began." These illegal imprisonments, this illegal war was NOT IN MY NAME!

[violist47]

I don''t think one can blame Sanders for Mukasey''s fall. Sanders, of course, had no way of knowing Mukasey would crumble after his comments. Otherwise, I am sure he would not have made them. As it was, he clearly articulated what many of us clearly and, I feel, justifiably believe.

[kansas1946]

never ever bought into what Bush said. I never agreed with Gitmo. And I remember Bush (or one of his direct representatives) calling it a war on terror, but saying that the people at Gitmo were not prisoners of war and so that the Geneva convention rules did not apply to them.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Dilonsiel at 07:44 PM : Nov 26, 2008
+ report abuse
*****************************

I am not part of that "we" either. I think the "Patriot Act" is the most laughable misnomer in history. Patriot my a**. Bush, prodded by Cheney, made one of the most bald power grabs in our history. It was an evil adminstration.

[kansas1946]

Well, it does seem as though the judge has the right ideas on upholding the rule of law, but I do think he should have better behavior about it. And since I''''m one of the voters that will vote on him at his next election, I will certainly remember this.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Dilonsiel at 07:46 PM : Nov 26, 2008
***********************************

It always makes me a little nervous to have judges in office that seem like loose canons. I don''t know, I guess I just expect judges to act a little wiser and with more decorum than the rest of us chickens. That should be why the are judges. Who knows when he might flip-out on the bench. :o)

[clovisbuford]

Individual rights is one of the few areas I have of common ground with most true conservatives. Some of the most vocal critics of the illegal wire tapping , rendition and torture policies of the Bush admin have been conservative critics , judicial watch being one of them. Guys like Mukasey and Bush have their security scheduled where they are in a bubble and never hear a harsh word about their illegalities. I say this judge is to be applauded if for nothing else than expressing his disapproval of Mukasey who is a Bush sycophant , in a clear manner, in a place it should matter , amongst his peers. Mukasey has made every effort to stifle investigations into the torture policies , the illegal wire tapping of Americans , the firing of the federal attorneys , that he can .

[dilonsiel]

Actually, even though I agree with his sentiments on Mukasey, I think he sounds a bit looney, and not at all judge like. I would hope that voters bounce him out his next time up. We need judges who uphold the constitution but we don''''t need nutty ones.

------Posted by kansas1946

Well, it does seem as though the judge has the right ideas on upholding the rule of law, but I do think he should have better behavior about it. And since I''m one of the voters that will vote on him at his next election, I will certainly remember this.

[dilonsiel]

I am not sure how I feel about our countries use of Gitmo. I do recall that shortly after 9/11 Bush and others told us we would be giving up "some" of our freedoms in return for safety. We warily bought into it. Bush has delivered on the safety. Only we can decide if it was worth the trade. But now that we feel safe, we choose to ridicule and insult the people many of us supported when we were afraid. I dont agree with that because it will deter some future leader from actions that may be necessary to protect us.

---------Posted by machineguy

I''m curious. Who is the "we" in the above?

I never ever bought into what Bush said. I never agreed with Gitmo. And I remember Bush (or one of his direct representatives) calling it a war on terror, but saying that the people at Gitmo were not prisoners of war and so that the Geneva convention rules did not apply to them.

[antoniof123]

And so what he can''t take being yelled at so he falls apart. Oh great can our country survive another 2 months of this madness.

[kansas1946]

Actually, even though I agree with his sentiments on Mukasey, I think he sounds a bit looney, and not at all judge like. I would hope that voters bounce him out his next time up. We need judges who uphold the constitution but we don''t need nutty ones.

[impeach___w]

Our country holds someone ileagaly with no charges, we are forced to charge or release, trump up some charges in a fixed court even though they have the right to challenge before a civil court. Have no access to lawyers...etc. This guy was "caught" with stinger missles in his trunk. The stingers were provided to Afgans via the ISI by a presidential order signed by Reagan. George W called possession of these weapons a "war crime".

Our country sold it''s souls and spent millions for what? To declare some type of quasi-legal victory and let him go? Why do it at all? I will tell you- The treament Cheney and company authorised will come to light. We the people will see what has been done in our name. They will be shown to be just as much the enemies of freedom as the terrorists. Our present leaders are more powerful and therefore more dangerous to Our freedom, liberty and way of life.

Guantanamo prosecutors sought a sentence of 30 years to life for Hamdan and they argued that he should not receive credit for his time detained at Guantanamo. A military judge rejected that argument. Osama bin Laden''s former driver returned home to Yemen Wednesday to serve out his remaining prison sentence after the U.S. released him from Guantanamo Bay.
Hamdan was transferred to Yemeni custody after he arrived Wednesday night.

The military said it could keep him locked up indefinitely if it considered him to be a continued threat. Instead, he was sent back home to Yemen early.