Issue Position: Judges/Courts

Issue Position

Issue Position: Judges/Courts

The Framers of our 230-year-old republic created a system of checks and balances to keep the three branches of the federal government accountable to the people. The legislative branch writes the laws. The executive branch executes the laws. And the judicial branch interprets the laws. As a member of Congress, I also take my Constitutional oversight responsibilities to heart. No matter which political party is in charge, I keep my nose to the grindstone to expose waste, fraud and abuse. I also champion internal watchdogs who blow the whistle on wrongdoing. That includes private citizens, i.e., whistleblowers, who come forward voluntarily with information about waste, fraud or abuse as well as Inspectors General whose job it is to investigate allegations of wrongdoing. Currently, more than 60 IGs work to bring transparency and accountability to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.

A former jurist serving on the highest court in the land, Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote: "Sunshine is the best disinfectant." I whole-heartedly agree. As a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has oversight jurisdiction of the federal courts, I have long worked to make the judicial branch more open and transparent to the American people. From my bipartisan bill that would allow cameras in the courtroom (Nov. 9, 2005 Statement Cameras on Court) to another that would create a first-ever Inspector General within the federal judiciary (Need for Inspector General, Jan. 31, 2007 ), I'm working to strengthen two bedrock principles of American democracy - an engaged citizenry and open government.

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