Judges’ decisions show true courage

“The hard thing to do, the courageous thing to do, is to fulfill your oath, especially when you know it’s going to make your political supporters unhappy.”

This Dec. 18 quote from Republican Justice Brian Hagedorn of the Wisconsin Supreme Court was given after the conservative judge refused to throw out the results of the presidential election in Wisconsin.

As in the 60 or so other unsuccessful lawsuits filed by Trump supporters to collectively toss millions of votes, the judge ruled that reversing the election results was not supported by the evidence.

He was, of course, harassed by Trump supporters who accused him of being a traitor, a liar, and of being paid off by the Chinese Communist Party. He received “dark messages” on the phone and was asked by his kids if they needed to stop playing in the front yard.

Many Republican judges and election officials bravely refused to overthrow American democracy despite extreme personal and professional pressure from Trump supporters. These people represent true American “profiles in courage.”

You won’t see much in the way of “profiles in courage” from the Republican Party leadership in New Mexico. Steve Pearce and Yvette Herrell supported throwing out the results of the presidential election and keeping Trump in office rather than seat a Democrat who easily defeated Trump by 7 million votes. Herrell’s first speech before Congress was to object to the Pennsylvania electors and throw out 6.9 million votes in Pennsylvania, which Biden won by 80,000 votes. She wasn’t even claiming fraud.

As Judge (Stephanos) Bibas (a Republican) ruled in a Pennsylvania case: “Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here.”

Republicans can be divided into two groups, those who support American democracy despite being unhappy about the results of this election, and those who support Trump remaining in office and the voters be damned. Republican leaders in New Mexico have made it clear where they stand. BOB CARROLL

Albuquerque