Judges and politics

Judges made their names in the annals of legal history when the country was not involved in domestic political turmoil. 

Judges like Thurgood Marshall and William Douglas emerged to expound great principles on civil liberties when Democrats and Republicans lived peacefully together. 

When politics got dirty and internecine warfare broke out, American presidents started putting their men in the Supreme Court. 

The best is no longer the priority, but the faithful who share the political philosophy and ideas of the ruling party get selected by the President

In our country, too, in peaceful times, excellent judges ruled the legal waves, which made us all proud of their legal prowess. 

Today, the country is experiencing political turmoil. Seven Federal Court judges will soon retire, and I am worried political leaders will start stacking their “ appointees” who are less than capable to the top tiers of the court.

This is not a criticism of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun whom I greatly respect. I know how the system works, and she can only do so much to ensure that only the best get promoted.

We will soon descend to the times when loyalty supersedes everything good about our justice system. That is why I felt a tinge of sadness with the departure of the Chief Justice