Why did she have to retire?

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, in a speech at Georgetown University, criticized Republicans who have denounced so-called "activist judges". Many Republican leaders have been vocal about judges who they say "legislate from the bench". Some even calling for impeachment or suggesting retribution for judges so labeled. There has even been violence directed at judges for their positions. Justice O'Connor said "We must be ever-vigilant against those who would strong-arm the judiciary."

We are truly in trouble in this country if the judiciary has to worry about whether they get killed because some zealot doesn't agree with their rulings. And it is an atrocity that legislators like Sen. Tom DeLay, Sen. Bill Frist, and Sen. John Cornyn would accept, even encourage such behavior.

These right-wing Christian zealots who were up in arms about the Teri Schiavo case are prime examples of why the judiciary needs to be independent, and needs to be protected from retribution for doing their job. And in that case, in hindsight, the courts were correct!! The autopsy proved that Schiavo's brain had been severely damaged, and she was in a Persistent, Vegetative State.

Yet we have a so-called physician like Bill Frist in the Senate, who "diagnoses" Teri Schiavo based on a video that he saw. And this guy is the Senate Majority Leader? He's not even very good at what he's been trained to do, let alone make decisions for his constituents and millions of Americans.

Yet these same types preach against "activist judges". Well, aren't they just "activist legislators"? Their job is to represent their constituents, not interpret the Bible on the Senate floor.

And their job is certainly NOT to prevent the Judicial branch from doing their job, independently, and without the threat of violence