Judge Joan Lefkow Speaks

For those who didn't happen to catch it on Wednesday - and it got only incidental mention on the evening news because, of course, her views aren't convenient to the GOP message, Crooks and Liars brings us this:

Chicago Tribune: In her first major public appearance since a disgruntled plaintiff murdered her husband and mother in her Chicago home, U.S. District Court Judge Joan H. Lefkow today called for better protection for judges.

She also asked lawmakers to repudiate recent "gratuitous attacks" on the judiciary by commentators such as Pat Robertson and by some members of Congress.

"In the age of mass communication, harsh rhetoric is truly dangerous," Lefkow said. "Fostering disrespect for judges can only encourage those that are on the edge, or the fringe, to exact revenge on a judge who ruled against them."

Meanwhile, the heartless cardiac surgeon from Tennessee, Bill Frist, used the word "assassinate" more than once to refer to what he says the Dems are doing to Bush's judicial nominees, of which 208 of 218 have been voted on and seated on the court.

And did you realize that since Judge Lefkow's family was butchered by a right wing extremist, the federal marshals, charged with protecting fed judges, have actually CUT BACK their protection? They say they're overworked. And Congress - seemingly having zero problem with non-right extremist judges threatened and harmed - has no problem with this.

Heinous.