Whether we’re on the left or the right, we can’t tolerate attacks on America’s judges | Opinion

All the headlines seem to read that President Donald Trump is “taking on the judges.” It appears that this means that he is targeting those judges who have made rulings adverse to his interests and points of view.

For 13 years, I served as a Missouri Circuit Court judge. My rulings required the reading and understanding of judicial opinions written by judges from across the country. Though sometimes I didn’t agree with a ruling, I always believed that the deciding judge was doing his or her best to be fair and impartial. That’s the way its supposed to be. And, if a party was unhappy with a ruling, they could appeal. That’s how the system works.

No one should target anyone, let alone our judges. Our country requires a strong judiciary, one that is not subject to the whims of the coequal executive and legislative branches. Wherever one might fall on the political spectrum, no one should be allowed to mess with our judiciary, as its been our judges who have always protected all of us: lefties, righties, abolitionists of all shapes and sizes, the disabled, the educated and the not-so-educated, the reds and the blues, the rich and the poor — all of us.

Now is the time to step up and be heard. That stepping up needs to include our almost 500 retired Missouri judges. Let’s all, everyone, talk to our friends and legislators: Hands off our judges. This is so important. It’s what our nation is all about.