Justice for sale

It’s a sad commentary when a Montana Supreme Court candidates runs for the purpose of making that position a purely political office. That Supreme Court is supposed to be nonpartisan in its decisions.

Mr. Van Dyke appears to be a rebirth of the notorious “carpetbaggers” of the post Civil War Era. His residence for several decades has been almost entirely outside of Montana. He returned in order to be the handpicked candidate of the Montana Tea Party leadership and other extremists.

Massive amounts of his campaign money have come from beyond Montana. Much has come from corporations and lobbyist organizations that will look for him to rule to their advantage in certain cases with no regard for what is in accordance with true meaning of the law and what is best for Montana. They want and expect political payback from a possible member of the highest court in this state.

That is not the basis upon which judges should be elected. His opponent — Mike Wheat, a Montana resident for decades — has served in a nonpartisan fashion with dignity and fairness during his term on the Court and truly deserves the vote of the all reasonable Montanans.

Ernest Scherzer

Trout Creek