Oh, what are the odds?
It turns out that one of the justices hearing New Hampshire phone jammer James Tobin’s appeal has his own history of dirty tricks.
Judge Howard ran as a Republican for the New Hampshire governorship back in 2000. He lost — but not before his campaign threw a few sucker punches at one of his opponents. From the official investigation report from the state Attorney General, filed after the election:
One of those activities entailed putting out an anonymous mailing that charged Humphrey’s wife with being an “active member of a cult … that advocates adults and children having orgasms as a means of achieving inner peace.” [Roll Call, 8/2/01]
The AG charged Howard’s aides with failing to register their political activities with the secretary of state. That’s not as grandiose as sabotaging Democratic phone banks, but it should help him understand Tobin’s plight. (The Senate Majority Project has a great rundown on all the judges.)
Via SMP.
