Byron Dorgan: “I am mindful of the dilemma of criticizing the courts. I generally don't do that. I may have used some intemperate…”

“I am mindful of the dilemma of criticizing the courts. I generally don't do that. I may have used some intemperate language today to do so, but I am a little tired of the judiciary saying, ``Well, you know, don't ever comment about us. We are over here way above comment.'' I called a judge one day when I picked up the Washington Post some while ago. A couple of people put a pistol to a man's head in a pizza delivery murder and killed him. The trigger man was let out on, I think, $10,000 bond by the judge. I read that story. I thought to myself, ``What on Earth are we doing?'' I called the judge. The judge says, ``How dare you call me. You have no right to call me.'' I said, ``Of course, I have a right to call you.'' It turned out a lot of other people in that community called him, and he decided to change the bail. That young fellow was brought back to jail and was subsequently convicted of murder and put into prison. But the point is that I do not criticize the judiciary lightly. I do not want to taint the judiciary. The fact is a lot of people are doing a lot of wonderful work, I am sure. But there are times when you see decisions come out that are so unsound and so devoid of common sense. I try to be mindful of the point about criticizing the judiciary. But, frankly, I think sometimes they deserve a little criticism. I am going to do it when I feel they have made decisions like this that we can remedy with some Federal legislation, and they should know it is coming.”