Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2018

Abstract

In April 1970, Congressman Gerald Ford called for the impeachment ofJustice William 0. Douglas. Although Douglas had been accused by anticivil rights Southern Democrats ofunprofessional conduct in his association with ap oliticalf oundation as well as his four marriages, Fordr easonedt hat, in addition to the past allegations, Justice Douglas had become a threat to national security. Within two weeks of Ford's allegations, United States military forces invaded Cambodia without the express consent of Congress. Nixon's involvement in Ford's attempts to have Justice Douglas impeached give rise to the possibility that, in addition to trying to reshape the judiciary and further architect the "Southern Strategy " by bringing conservative Southern Democrats into the Republican Party, the impeachment would serve as a means to divert attention away from the Cambodian invasion. Ford's irresponsible conduct in this matter (and Justice Douglas's overall conduct) have never been historically addressed and, as a result, did not leave to future political leaders and judges a means by which to gauge behavior that can undermine the independence of the judicial branch. This Article is intended to provide a historical model of accountability.

Publication Title

Campbell Law Review

Volume

40

Issue

1

First Page

113

Last Page

171

Included in

Law Commons

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