[unholythree]

Well Jefferson certainly wasn't ever wrong about anything. He certainly wouldn't have held any beliefs contrary to 20th or 21st century values. /s

Obviously the dude had a lot of good ideas, but just grabbing anything he said and acting like it's gospel is flawed for dare I say a pretty glaring reason...

[chasil]

I'm not saying that Jefferson's words were elevated beyond his peers.

His flaws certainly belie such an assertion.

I'm saying that what Jefferson did was to remove problematic judges.

Congress had, has, and will have the power to reshape the federal judiciary as they choose. They can erase all courts below the supreme, and they can add or remove justices to the highest court as they choose (excepting present members, which are lifetime). Thus the saying "pack the court."

To challenge an executive that has friends in congress is a dangerous proposition for a federal judge.

It could end badly.

[reverius42]

> To challenge [the legality of an action by] an executive that has friends in congress is a dangerous proposition for a federal judge. > It could end badly.

This implies that the courts cannot be an effective check and balance on the other branches. Aren't they meant to be?