Former justice visits law school
O'Connor describes proposed Web site
Mark Norris, Editor In Chief, mnorris@smu.edu
Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: News
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"When civics and government are taught, they have the dullest books you've ever read in your life," O'Connor said. "And kids don't like to read anyway, so I don't think that's a winner."
O'Connor said she is in the middle of creating a Web site that will teach children of all grades about the judiciary and its importance to American life. The site could be used in classrooms across the nation, she said.
Arizona State University has offered to host the Web site and have designers create it. A committee is in the process of being selected to produce the content.
She said the best way to have informed citizens is to make sure they learn about civics while in school. O'Connor said No Child Left Behind's emphasis on math, science and reading has had unintended consequences for civics and history classes - schools either dropping them or reducing the amount of time spent on them.
She mentioned a survey conducted by the American Bar Association that found more people could name the Three Stooges than the three branches of government.
Accordingly, O'Connor said the Web site will be a totally interactive program that will be free of charge.
"Children today will sit endlessly in front of a computer," she said. "We need to put this knowledge in this format."
The former justice also said she is hearing more criticisms about the judiciary than any other time in her lifetime.
She mentioned recent elections in South Dakota and Colorado that challenged the independence of judges in the state. Both propositions failed before voters, but she said the root of those issues comes from people not having an understanding of the judicial system.
"If jurisdiction stripping is a punishment, then that's where you get worried," O'Connor said.
She said Minnesota v. White, a case that was decided while she was on the court, has created problems for an independent judiciary. The result of the case allows justices to answer policy or issue questions when running for office.
O'Connor said single-issue advocacy groups are targeting justices and pressuring them.
"I wasn't aware that I was serving with a bunch of activist judges," O'Connor said, citing one of the tactics such groups has taken.
O'Connor was the first female justice on the Supreme Court, appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Joe Norman
posted 4/06/07 @ 2:27 PM CST
There are many filters between the reality of what goes on in the lower courts and the USSC Justices. These filters have distored the true picture of the state of the Federal Judiciary to Justice O'Connor. (Continued…)
Guy Sparkman
posted 4/06/07 @ 4:16 PM CST
There is good reason for the fact that Justice O'Conner is hearing more criticisms about the judiciary than any time in here life. For every effect there is a cause. (Continued…)
Randy Linamen
posted 4/10/07 @ 4:57 PM CST
Judicial accountability? Treasonous Supreme Court Clerks filter out truth. Justices couldn't handle so much truth. Reason for world's highest prisoner percentage here in the 'Land of the Free'. (Continued…)
Larry Fafarman
posted 4/14/07 @ 8:06 PM CST
No, Sandra, the only way to improve the public's views of our corrupt court system is to reform it, not whitewash it.
I have had many bad experiences as a pro se (self-represented) litigant -- e. (Continued…)
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