The facts ma'am, only the facts (as related by the candidates) -- Part III (Court of Appeals race)
From the 8-6-04 ajc:
The Court of Appeals candidates comment on "the" questionnaire:
Debra Bernes from Marietta:
During the campaign, Bernes declined to answer a Christian Coalition questionnaire that sought candidates' views on U.S. Supreme Court decisions on hot-button social issues such as abortion, homosexual conduct and school vouchers. She said she was concerned her answers might force her to recuse herself if such issues came before the court.
"When you start expressing opinions, it begins to look like you're making campaign promises," she said.
Bernes said she considered herself neither liberal nor conservative. "I'll fairly and impartially decide each and every case," she said."
Mike Sheffield from Lawrenceville:
Sheffield said he would be a conservative judge and called himself the "Georgia values" candidate. He had not hesitated to express his opinion about a number of prominent social issues, such as his opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
He noted he was the only candidate among six in the Appeals Court race to answer the Christian Coalition's questionnaire.
Sheffield said he answered the questionnaire because he believed the issues were unlikely to come before the Court of Appeals. He also cited court decisions allowing judicial candidates to speak more freely when running for election.
"I thought it was important . . . to let the voters know how I stand on these issues," he said.
[Sid comments: I will vote for Bernes, and am proud to have voted for Justice Sears on July 20. Although Sears used the same reason as Bernes for not sending back the questionnaire -- she might have to recuse or disqualify herself from hearing a case if it came before the Court -- I don't buy this. Sheffield uses the same logic by saying he answered the questionnaire because he does not he believe the issues were likely to come before the Court of Appeals. Hogwash on this line of reasoning by Sears, Bernes and Sheffield.
The correct reason for not answering the questionnaire is found in the other reason Bernes gave: "When you start expressing opinions, it begins to look like you're making campaign promises."]
The Court of Appeals candidates comment on "the" questionnaire:
Debra Bernes from Marietta:
During the campaign, Bernes declined to answer a Christian Coalition questionnaire that sought candidates' views on U.S. Supreme Court decisions on hot-button social issues such as abortion, homosexual conduct and school vouchers. She said she was concerned her answers might force her to recuse herself if such issues came before the court.
"When you start expressing opinions, it begins to look like you're making campaign promises," she said.
Bernes said she considered herself neither liberal nor conservative. "I'll fairly and impartially decide each and every case," she said."
Mike Sheffield from Lawrenceville:
Sheffield said he would be a conservative judge and called himself the "Georgia values" candidate. He had not hesitated to express his opinion about a number of prominent social issues, such as his opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
He noted he was the only candidate among six in the Appeals Court race to answer the Christian Coalition's questionnaire.
Sheffield said he answered the questionnaire because he believed the issues were unlikely to come before the Court of Appeals. He also cited court decisions allowing judicial candidates to speak more freely when running for election.
"I thought it was important . . . to let the voters know how I stand on these issues," he said.
[Sid comments: I will vote for Bernes, and am proud to have voted for Justice Sears on July 20. Although Sears used the same reason as Bernes for not sending back the questionnaire -- she might have to recuse or disqualify herself from hearing a case if it came before the Court -- I don't buy this. Sheffield uses the same logic by saying he answered the questionnaire because he does not he believe the issues were likely to come before the Court of Appeals. Hogwash on this line of reasoning by Sears, Bernes and Sheffield.
The correct reason for not answering the questionnaire is found in the other reason Bernes gave: "When you start expressing opinions, it begins to look like you're making campaign promises."]
posted by Sid Cottingham | 6:38 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home