CLEVELAND, April 29, 2005 -- American Bar Association President Robert J. Grey Jr. today denounced as "politically motivated" attacks against judges stemming from recent high profile cases, saying that they highlight the lack of civility in contemporary public discourse regarding the role of judges in American justice. In remarks prepared for delivery, Grey called these attacks, and the general decline in respect for judges, a danger to our courts and our democracy.

"The saber rattling in some quarters for retribution against judges in the wake of the Terri Schiavo case, and the draconian stance against the judiciary by some of this country’s lawmakers, is troubling," said Grey.

Speaking today at the City Club of Cleveland, Grey condemned "the verbal assaults lobbed by some in Congress against judges" and called on lawmakers to refrain from undue and over-the-top criticism of the judiciary based on disagreements with individual decisions.

"Regardless of how one feels about the specific circumstances of the Schiavo—or any—case," said Grey, "the role of the judiciary is clear. Federal and state judges are charged with weighing the facts of a case and following the law, responsibilities they carry out with great dignity and sensitivity."

Grey said that while the judiciary, like any other branch of government, is not immune from criticism, the recent threats and intimidating remarks are disrespectful to the men and women of our judiciary.

"Without our justice system, without jurors, without our judges, our democratic government based on the separation of powers could not exist. An independent judiciary—one free of intimidation and manipulation—is essential to our government of separate but equal branches, where cooperation and respect among the branches is vital."

Grey also cited the increased personalization and politicization of judicial election campaigns in many states—including in Ohio—bitter partisanship over nominations to the federal bench, and the vitriolic attacks on allegedly "activist" judges that flood our nation’s airwaves almost every day. Grey said the time has come to change this environment.

"We must address the current atmosphere in which our courts operate—whether state or federal—and what can only be called a decline in civility and respect toward our justice system. Our worsening atmosphere is as deadly a weapon against an independent judiciary as is any individual assailant."

With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society.