The End of Judicial Independence

Frida Ghitis: King George III ordered colonial judges to serve only “at the pleasure of the crown’s crown” She says Americans wanted independent judges for the same reason they wanted a revolution.

Ghitis says judges have to avoid political influence to base their arguments on the law.

She says fears of politicizing the judiciary date back back to the early days of the republic.

Recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity appears designed to assist former (and possibly future) President Donald Trump .

Frida Ghitis : The independence of our courts is cracking, not because judges aren’t protected but because some judges are happy to serve “at the pleasure of the crown” She says Poland 's political party carried out a judicial coup to bring judicial independence to an end.

Ghitis says the public didn't worry about legal changes that affected people in real ways.

Frida Ghitis : Polish courts will be tainted by illegitimacy and treated with suspicion for years to come.

She says even a dedicated, malevolent president and a venomous Congress would find it difficult to replicate Polish experience.

Ghitis says Supreme Court and all other federal courts now appear to both sides of the polarized political spectrum to be weaker, more political, easier to manipulate.