Ford Broadcasts, 1965-1966: 12237637

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

Reflecting on the duties and obligations of the third branch of government----it can be said the Federal Judiciary's function is to interpret the Constitution and the laws.

There is evidence that the Judicial Branch is arbitrarily elbowing its way to new positions of authority, disregarding the wise suggestions of judicial restraint made by the late Justice Felix Frankfurter and others.

When the Supreme Court ordered states to reapportion on the one-man, one-vote concept, Justice Frankfurter in a dissenting opinion was critical of the court assuming--in his words---"destructively novel judicial power."

Justice Frankfurter also said---"in this situation, as in others of like nature, appeal for relief does not belong here. Appeal must be made to an informed, civically militant electorate."

While talking with you on this WJR broadcast, I have spelled out the threatening imbalance of power in the present Congress, executive and judicial branches of our government.

To correct this situation, I urge more citizens to become part of what Justice Frankfurter described as an informed, civically militant electorate. I encourage each of you to become more knowledgable on all sides of leading issues and with all political personalities.

While we may not agree among ourselves as to own own choice of political parties and candidates, we should thoroughly agree that men and women who actively work for a party and candidates of their choice are better citizens.

GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY