There has been much discussion in recent years around the role of judges and justices, particular those on the Supreme Court of the U.S. We are seeing that discussion play out vividly in America even today, much of it partisan in Read more…
When Associate Justice Antonin Scalia sat on the Supreme Court, he advocated for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution based on the words that actually appear in it. He was not a proponent of judicial activism, but rather of judicial constraint. Read more…
Last Saturday morning, our yellow Labrador, Sonny the Wonder Dog, went on his last retrieve peacefully at home lying beside me. He had been suffering from severe arthritis in his hind legs and a very bad bowel condition. Through it all, Read more…
There are few judicial principles more vital to the freedom and our republican form of government than this: Jus dicere, et non jus dare, that is “to declare the law, not to make it.” The people who founded America debated this Read more…
I suppose there are few talents as important in life as seeing things clearly. George Washington, while leading the American Army in the Revolution, was particularly gifted at seeing things as they were, not as he wished them to be. He saw Read more…
This week I had trees on my mind. It’s that time of year when I pick apples, having already enjoyed cherries and peaches that I harvested earlier this summer. Trees are remarkable. But as sturdy as they can eventually become, those we plant Read more…
Recently, I had a discussion with someone about the nature of truth. I contended objective truth is important to distinguish between right and wrong actions. He countered that deciding what is right or wrong was actually engaging in “subjective” truth; that truth, righteousness, Read more…
Recently I was thinking about how blessed we are in our modern existence. Like many of you, I’ve travelled throughout Europe. In the process I’ve visited museums and castles where images of past kings, queens, dukes, and duchesses graced the walls. There were Read more…
I’ve spent a good portion of life in the political world, so I am familiar with how words are used in politics and, if the public isn’t adroit in understanding how terms are used to manipulate the truth, they risk Read more…
I love to write. So I thought I’d use my update this week to share with you how I go about it. The start point is fairly basic. I ask myself, “What will I write about this week and do I have anything Read more…