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Conflict Highlights | (Click to enlarge) Cover of Sep. 1986 booklet, Should Chief Justice Rose Bird Be Re-Confirmed In The Upcoming November 4, 1986 California Election? |
The pro/con statements below indicate the great depth of disparity in the Rose Bird debate, and to our core question, "Should Chief Justice Rose Bird be Reconfirmed (in the 11/4/96 California Election)?" |
Pro Rose Bird | Con Rose Bird | |
1. | Chief Justice Bird voted with the majority of the court 94.8% of the time in reversing 55 of 58 death penalty cases. |
Chief Justice Bird has voted to reverse 100% of the 58 death penalty cases reviewed by the California Supreme Court. |
2. | The California Supreme Court has upheld convictions in more than 90% of all criminal appeals since Chief Justice Bird joined the court. |
Between 1977 and 1982 Chief Justice Bird handed down verdicts that favored the defendant in about 75% of the cases reviewed by the court. |
3. | Chief Justice Bird is a thoughtful, thorough jurist. |
Chief Justice Bird's decisions are too often based on personal bias. |
4. |
Chief Justice Bird has been widely praised for her administrative competence. |
Chief Justice Bird's administration of the court has been poor. |
5. |
Six of 15 U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justices, including the highly regarded Earl Warren, had no prior judicial experience. |
Prior to her appointment to the California Supreme Court, Chief Justice Bird had no judicial experience. |
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