Eu Asks Bird to Quit Drive: ‘Erodes Respect for Court’

SACRAMENTO —  Secretary of State March Fong Eu on Monday called for California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird to not seek reelection to another term on the Supreme Court because she “is eroding respect for the court” and “destroying it as a coequal part of government.”

Eu, who is seeking reelection, is the only woman holding a constitutional office in California and the only statewide Democratic official to call on Bird to abandon her campaign for reconfirmation at the November election.

“I have profound respect for Rose Bird’s courage, her uncompromising integrity and her commitment to her principles,” Eu said. “I respect her apparent disapproval of the death penalty even though I personally support the death penalty.

“However, her continued presence as chief justice is eroding respect for the court as an institution and is destroying it as a coequal part of government. She would best serve her state and the judiciary, which she leads, by not seeking reconfirmation in November.”

Bird is under heavy attack from Gov. George Deukmejian and various conservative organizations as she wages an uphill battle for a second term. Democratic candidates generally hold her at arm’s length or declare themselves neutral on Bird.

However, Steven M. Glazer, communications director for Bird’s campaign committee, said he found it “ironic for a politician (Eu) to praise the courage, principles and integrity of the chief justice and then say the institution would be better served for her to give in to the political hound dogs.”

Said Glazer: “The foundation of our judiciary is composed of judges who will uphold the law even when it is unpopular and not to bow to the pressures of politicians from the legislative or executive branches. The voters have a clear choice: they can have on the Supreme Court a courageous, independent, and impartial chief justice or have her replaced by a weak, dependent pawn of the politicians.”