Anti-Judge Measures Go Down in Flames

Turns out that the "anti-judge" movement in the American West, in places like Colorado and South Dakota, isn't as pronounced as some (like me) thought it was. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the South Dakota initiative that would have stripped judges of their legal immunity and made them vulnerable to lawsuits over unpopular decisions. The measure got just over 10 percent of the vote. In Colorado, voters by a smaller margin said no to a measure that would have forced appellate judges out of office via term limits.

The results are good news for any number of reasons. But supporters of the measures say they will be back in 2008 for another round of fighting- and probably another whuppin'-- so take a few breaths over the next 18 months or so and then meet me back here for Stupid Ballot Initiatives, Part Deux.

By Andrew Cohen |  November 8, 2006; 10:30 AM ET
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