We can speak about the institution, but ultimately the bar is the group that both is in touch with the public on the one hand and understands the judicial institution on the other

People have to be educated and they have to stick to it. If people lose that respect, an awful lot is lost

But once the person is selected, at that point that person is independent.

It's important to every American that the law protect his or her basic liberty

We are selected, but I grew up in California and in San Francisco and there was a system of electing judges.

And the problem is once you get into this campaign business and begin to have a lot of money, then the person on the bench begins to think - what's going to happen if I decide the case this way or that way?

Nobody wants a judge to be subject to the political whim of the moment.