I don't have any other link for this quote than this Americablog entry:

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN: "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. Certainly nothing new, but we seem to have run through a spate of courthouse violence recently that's been on the news and I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters on some occasions where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in - engage in violence." [Senate Floor, 4/4/05]

"Unaccountable". I seem to recall learning in my civics courses that was one of the positive aspects of having judges appointed for life. They are able to focus on the law and proper interpretation of the law. Judges are supposed to interpret and implement the laws Congress passes. Congress meanwhile is able to pass any damn law they want, no matter how weird, strange or downright idiotic. Judges provide the chance to check the law against the Constitution. And, surprise! Our Congresscritters pass laws that are unconstitutional. Considering that somewhere around 45 percent of the members of Congress have law degrees, you might think they would be a little more on the ball. But that's not neccesarily their problem. That's why we have judges and courts.

I'm just a little pissed at the "blame the judges" attitude floating around in the wake of the Terri Schiavo, um, event.