Opinions

Alaska's judiciary must maintain independence from faith and politics

As Yogi Berra would say, "It's like déjà vu all over again." Once again, just a couple weeks before the Nov. 8 election, the same old players are back at the same old game. Echoing their 2010 unsuccessful attacks on our independent judiciary, those with a narrow and divisive religious agenda are this time targeting Alaska Supreme Court Justices Joel Bolger and Peter Maassen in a retention vote.

We are in the midst of a disheartening season of national politics, absolutely unprecedented in its disregard of facts, reliance on vicious personal attacks, and outrageous revelations. Many people are understandably taking a respite from Facebook and other social media as our newsfeeds have become poisoned by a level of mean-spiritedness that threatens to destroy long-standing friendships and family relationships built over a lifetime of shared experiences. Opportunities for reasonable or respectful discussion and reflection, the bedrock of our American democracy, are under assault from a political culture and a news cycle, which reward the candidate that yells louder or proves more adept at distortion and manipulation. Common human decency, respect for the rule of law, and a sense of our shared values as Americans are all casualties, sacrificed to the false god of extreme partisanship and a lack of critical thinking.

[Justices must rule according to constitutions, not according to any religion]

It is not hyperbole to simply state that our civic discourse and the orderly political process by which we self-govern is at risk.

To safeguard against just such a day, the wise framers of the Alaska Constitution set aside the state judiciary to be an independent, nonpolitical and coequal branch of government, operating on the principles of judicial restraint and faithful adherence to the law. Unlike some other states, the Alaska Constitution set up a merit-based and nonpolitical judicial selection and court operation to protect our religious and civic freedoms, as well as our constitutional rights and liberties from interference or backroom deals by special interests and imperfect politicians.

The first and most sacred duty of a Supreme Court justice is to rule based upon the facts of the law and the constitution of the great state of Alaska, and to not be swayed by political pressures and campaigns which will come and go. Only in this way, whether we are Democrat, Republican, independent, nonpartisan, Libertarian, Green, regardless of faith tradition, can we be sure that justice in Alaska will be fair and impartial, regardless of which party or politician is currently in office.

The current campaign to deny retention to Alaska Supreme Court Justices Joel Bolger and Peter Maassen is a blatant and manipulative attempt to impose the narrow view of the few, at the expenses of the solid foundation of the law and the fairness and impartiality of the constitution.

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As faith leaders from a variety of different churches and perspectives, we believe that it is time to reclaim the center, resist the invitation from extremists to politicize our courts, and to defend the traditional framework of an impartial Alaska judiciary. We urge all Alaskans to vote to retain Justices Joel Bolger and Peter Maassen on Nov. 8.

Rev. Michael Burke is senior pastor and rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Rev. Julia Seymour is pastor of Lutheran Church of Hope. Rev. Matt Schultz is pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Martin Eldred  is pastor of Joy Lutheran Church. The views they express here are their own, and not necessarily those of their churches.

The views expressed here are the writer's and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com.

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