Civics

Activist Judges!

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the Right to cry "activism," but a silent coup is taking place at this very moment for the office of Indiana Secretary of State.

Last month, a jury found then-Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White (R) guilty of six felony counts of voter fraud, theft, and perjury. But today, the state’s supreme court overturned a lower court’s ruling that by registering to vote at a false address, he was ineligible to run for the office. The decision means that Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) will be able to appoint a permanent replacement for White, instead of the job going to the Democratic runner-up from the November 2010 election. The unanimous court held that Democrats should have challenged his residency before the election, rather than after.

Confirmed: registering a false address in the state of Indiana does not render you ineligible to run for office in Indiana. Future candidates take note!

Apparently neither does six counts of fraud, theft, and perjury. And if you're a Republican who perpetrates those offenses, the state's supreme court will ensure your party gets to chose your replacement.

This is all quite ironic given that fraud, theft, perjury, and registering a false address would mean you are ineligible for virtually any other job in the state. Jobs that do not even include making decisions for the entire state.