Clifford Taylor, chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, has a big target painted on his back.
(SNIP)
Allegations that Taylor has abused his power aren’t just partisan
complaints, however. Earlier this year, former Chief Justice Elizabeth
Weaver spawned headlines in a very public spat with the other four
Republican-nominated Supreme Court justices. Weaver said the four have
an overt ideological bent, and alleged various abuses of power.
The reasons for wanting to oust Taylor, and change the court
aren’t just based on partisan politics. There is also the record that
the high court has racked up over the last eight years, culminating in
a ruling released Wednesday about Nestle’s bottling facility in Mecosta
County.
The four conservative members of the court narrowed who is
allowed to sue under the Michigan Environmental Protection Act to stop
or prevent damage to the environment. The majority - consisting of
Taylor, Maura Corrigan, Robert Young Jr. and Stephen Markham - ruled
that someone suing under the act must demonstrate a clear connection to
themselves.
http://www.themorningsun.com/stories/072707/loc_opinion.shtml
(The four-member majority also managed to redefine "any person" under the statute in question to "not any person." That could be considered legislating from the bench -- by at least some reasonable persons. But perhaps the court will redefine what "reasonable person" means to include only Bill O'Reilly and those of his persuasion.)