Bob Dole: “as the American people know all too well, Federal judges can play an enormous role in our daily lives. Through their…”

“as the American people know all too well, Federal judges can play an enormous role in our daily lives. Through their rulings, Federal judges help determine whether criminals walk the streets or stay behind bars; whether racial quotas or merit govern in hiring decisions; whether businesses can function, prosper, and create jobs without being subject to baseless litigation; and whether parents can control the content of their children's education. Today, Federal judges micromanage schools, hospitals, fire and police departments, even prisons. According to one estimate, a staggering three-fourths of all State prisons and one-third of the 500 largest jails are under some form of Federal court supervision. One notorious example of judge-acting-as-legislator is Carl Muecke, appointed to the Federal bench by President Johnson. Judge Muecke has become the de facto administrator of the Arizona State Prison System. In a textbook example of judicial activism run amok, Judge Muecke has declared that Arizona prison libraries must be open at least 50 hours each week, that the State of Arizona must grant each of its 22,000 prisoners the opportunity to make at least three 20-minute phone calls every week to an attorney; that Arizona must provide lengthy legal research classes to inmates; and that Arizona prison officials must give each indigent inmate 1 pen and 1 pencil, 10 sheets of typing paper, 1 legal pad, and 4 envelopes upon request.”