Some Criticize O'Connor for Advocating Public Policy While She Hears Cases
If Sandra Day O’Connor is going to hear federal appellate court cases, she shouldn’t advocate for public policy matters, the Associated Press reports critics are saying about the retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
The piece notes recorded telephone calls made to Nevada voters, which used O’Connor’s voice supporting a ballot measure to change the state’s judicial selection process. O’Connor previously apologized, and stated that she did not authorize the calls. She did appear in a television commercial for the ballot measure, and has defended her involvement with the campaign.
In September, Iowa federal judges stayed away from a judicial elections conference where O’Connor spoke during another ballot issues campaign. According to the Associated Press, the judges received an informal opinion that their presence would violate the judiciary’s ethics code.
Also since her retirement from the court, the justice has taken an active role speaking about civics education, including iCivics.org, a Web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy.
