Government Forced Sterilization

Yahoo News published an article about a judge striking down another judge's ruling to force a woman to have an abortion and be sterilized.

The fact that any judge decided to decree that a woman was to be forced to have an abortion and be sterilized should be bone chilling to anybody with even the most basic grasp of what freedom means.  Family and Probate Court Judge Christina Harms decided that the woman was not competent to decide one way or another, despite having made her wishes quite clear in the matter.

BANG!

One gavel pounding and had the victim--err, citizen, not appealed, her rights were gone.

Judge Harms also decreed that the woman was to be sterilized, "to avoid this painful situation from recurring in the future."

A judge exists to interpret law, providing a neutral ground upon which a prosecutor makes a case for a jury to convict a defendant, and for that defendant to defend himself or herself against the prosecution.  A judge should never exist to arrogantly decree changes to a citizen's life, such as her right to have a baby or not, now or in the future.

Fortunately, the Appeals Court in Massachusetts made significant note that nobody requested either an abortion or sterilization and that the requirement appears to have been manufactured by Judge Harms.  The Appeals Court also overturned the ruling and sent the case back to the lower court.

The Citizens need to watch the actions of judges.  For states where judges are elected, vote bad judges out.  For states where judges are appointed, put pressure on the officials responsible for electing and retaining judges.

The Appeals Court should never have had to rule on this issue.  Judge Harms needs to be booted from her position.