by Paul Jacob

Joan Orie Melvin is a Superior Court justice in Pennsylvania. She recently returned to state coffers $14,402.55. It is good to see her return the money.

Why?

Sometime back, the legislature had given themselves and the judiciary pay raises while ignoring a constitutional requirement that any such raise could only take effect after the next election.

Politicians began feeling the heat right away. But the the Supreme Court justices thought they were immune to public outcry. So they approved the raise.

They were wrong. There was an outcry. Prominent citizens called the ruling “twisted.” And judges are beginning to squirm.

There's a retention vote for judges coming up. Voters can say “Yes” to their judges (local and state-level), or “No.” There is no competition. A “Yes” majority means the judge is re-elected. A "No" majority means the judge is out and there is a new election.

A group called PACleanSweep is telling Pennsylvanians that they can take back their government. They are urging voters to just say “No” to every judge who accepted the pay raise against the explicit wording of the constitution.

It’s quite an effort. I hope on election day Pennsylvanians will prove true to their constitutional heritage, throwing out all judges complicit in undermining the rule of law in such a self-serving way.

On a happy note, PACleanSweep has taken Judge Melvin off their hit list; she’s returned her ill-gotten gains. Good for her, good for CleanSweep, and good for Pennsylvania.

Paul Jacob's "Common Sense" is published by the Sam Adams Alliance. Their website can be visited at www.samadamsalliance.org.