BY JAMES NIMMO

The American Constitution, that much valued paper used as a weapon of convenience to hit the opposing party with but not much respected by the wielder, is deeply flawed and has outlived its usefulness for us in the 21st Century.

It occurred to me during the last 30 days or so during the KavaNOT Konundrum that even as the Constitution talks about three equal branches of government, the judicial branch is inconsiderately treated as a poor redheaded stepchild.

Consider this: At no time in the process of replacing a federal judge to a lower court or a justice to the highest court is there a public hearing in which a delegation from the judicial branch is invited to speak about prospective candidates nor is there any public document submitted from the judicial branch outlining the qualifications needed for the openings in the judicial circuits.

How can the judicial branch be considered a tri-equal partner in the federal government when the other two branches, congressional and executive, make all the decisions about appointments and there is no input from the electorate either?

We are governed by a self-corrupting incestuous system of feedback and nepotism as fully illustrated in the early Halloween committee hearings where shame and embarrassment were proudly masquerading as decency and respect.

– James Nimmo lives in Oklahoma City and is an occasional contributor to The Oklahoma Observer