How to Criticize Courts

New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman had an interesting op-ed in yesterday's New York Daily News that touches on the stop-and-frisk debate.  Lippman's principal point was to defend the judges who have had to make controversial rulings involving stop-and-frisk encounters from personal attacks by politicians and editorial writers.  But he also acknowledged the positive role that criticism of the courts can play: "The judiciary is one of our most important democratic institutions, and no public agency is immune to criticism. Indeed, criticism of the judiciary can be healty and constructive, helping to spur innovation and needed improvements in the administration of justice."