Pledge Them to Play Fair

    Without changing the Constitution, what can we do to help the court system be free from the influence of the other two branches of government? One of the beauties of our form of government is the check-and-balance effect that comes with having the three branches independent of each other, separation of powers, we call it. 

   One, Stick with nine justices. Expanding it would allow the party in power to wield political influence over the court. We already have too much of that. 

   Two, Appeal to  the President and the Senate to seek justices who will seek to stand by the Constitution regardless of politics. Have them take pledges that they will seek out candidates whose only concern is to interpret the law by the words of the law. Make them pledge to seek candidates who will be fair and impartial.

   Three, As the justices are sworn in, pledge them to refuse to be influenced by political influences. Pledge them to look at no more than what the law says, and to keep their decisions tight on ensuring the language of the law determines what their rulings will be.

   These things might not seem much. But, we must do all we can to ensure separation of powers. What little we can do, we should do. Pledging someone to a principle does have its effect. They will be more inclined to play fairly if they are pledged to play fairly.