After DeLay Remarks, Bush Says He Supports 'Independent Judiciary.' Sen. Kennedy praised Mr. Bush for "distancing himself."

President Bush appeared to distance himself on Friday from recent comments by the House Republican leader, Representative Tom DeLay, that Congress should crack down on unaccountable judges.

Asked in a conversation with reporters about statements by Mr. DeLay that judges were out of control and should be held accountable, the president said: "I believe in an independent judiciary. I believe in proper checks and balances. And we'll continue to put judges on the bench who strictly and faithfully interpret the Constitution."

Democrats called the president's statement a contradiction of Mr. DeLay's.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, praised Mr. Bush as "distancing himself from the current Republican rhetoric on retaliation against judges."

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, praised Mr. Bush's support for "an independent judiciary," then called on him to ask Senate Republicans to drop their threats to change the rules.

"The threat to change Senate rules is a raw abuse of power and will destroy the very checks and balances our founding fathers put in place to prevent absolute power by any one branch of government," Mr. Reid said.

(4-9-05, The New York Times.)