The committee, since August of 1997, has laid a substantial foundation for carrying out the mandate given it. It has joined with the Lawyers Conference of the Judicial Division of the ABA to ensure the nationwide implementation of the Model Plan for Response to Criticism of Judges. It has received substantial encouragement and financial support of other institutions to develop model programs for effectively dealing with unfair, harsh, and untrue criticism of judges and courts. It has spoken out in the media in response to unfair, harsh, untrue criticism or disciplining of judges and has supported public discussion encouraging appropriate accountability and efficiency of courts and judges. Additionally, it has begun the initial work to create an educational video on judicial independence as a critical element underpinning the Rule of Law in America.
Judges are vulnerable to political attacks from critics inside the government and outside.
You ve written that the founding fathers were confident that the judicial system could survive and flourish despite the attacks. Of course each issue has intense and constant public interest. Because judges have traditionally felt bound by their ethical duty to stand and take it, the war of words rages about them with virtually no defense being raised and articulated in their defense. The problem is not solely a concern for the federal Judiciary. State judiciaries are at least as vulnerable, principally because of the processes by which those judges are chosen and retained.