This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For years, we have been treated to rants from a sizable group of Republican officials and GOP activists about "liberal activist judges" who make law instead of interpreting it.
Some of the more creative types have turned the "activist judges" complaint into fundraisers for themselves. Cherilyn Eagar of the American Leadership Fund comes to mind.
The loudest gripes came after U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled Utah's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
Now, with the lawsuit the Utah Republican Party has filed against the state for its Count My Vote law, many of those same conservatives suddenly like the idea of an activist judge. They want an "activist judge" to overturn a bill passed by a Republican-dominated Legislature.
So when it suits a certain political agenda, legislators rather than judges should make law. But when the Legislature passes a law these complainers don't like, they want judges to make law.
And since it was a GOP Legislature that adopted the bill, the Republicans seem to be suing themselves.
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Bah humbug • The Three Fountains Condominium Homeowners Association in Murray decided not to allow much of a Christmas this year.
The board, at its November meeting, opted to allow only outdoor wreaths on front doors and lights on balcony rails for holiday trimmings.
What has been a brightly lit neighborhood of yuletide cheer on the west side of 900 East, now is cold and dark, residents say.
Those who posted lighted figures were issued citations along with residents who dared hang a wreath below their front window or on their carport walls.
When residents complained about the rule change, they were told the units should have uniform outside decor to protect property values.
So, ho-ho-ho to that.
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The cat in the ... • I wrote in October about the plight of Dave Snyder, who lives in the Barrington Park condominium complex in Taylorsville, which borders the Meadowbrook Golf Course near 1300 West and 4200 South.
He received several citations from the homeowners association for letting his adopted cat, Peter, outside without a leash.
Rather than tussle with the cat to get him to wear a leash, Snyder circulated a petition to change the rules and allow felines to go leash-less. He needed the approval of 30 percent of the homeowners, which meant 84 signatures. He got 94 and turned in the petition.
No dice.
The signatures didn't have the residents' printed names next to them and each page did not have a statement of its purpose. Only the front page did.
There also were questions about the legitimacy of 24 names. So Snyder got 25 more names and tried to fix the format.
He still didn't get it right, apparently, and was told to try again.
But he's tired. So, Pete, meet your leash.
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Grading the graders • Retired elementary school teacher Carol Van Wagoner can't quite stay away from the profession, so she works as a regular substitute teacher.
She was subbing recently at Hillside Middle School in the Salt Lake City School District, when she and her eighth-grade social studies students came up with an idea.
Since the Utah Legislature pushes for grading schools, teachers and school districts, the Hillside bunch wants to see each legislator spend five days teaching at elementary and secondary schools.
Legislators would be required to correct papers, make copies, oversee recess, help with math and reading, have bus duty, write referrals and lunch-detention slips, prepare lesson plans, create PowerPoint presentations and attend faculty meetings.
The best part: At day's end, the students would issue a grade on how well the legislator did.
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Making good • After my column Wednesday about Jonathan Marsh's continuing charges on his credit card to Doug Owens' congressional bid — even after the Democrat lost and the campaign is over, Owens contacted the donor, apologized for the inconvenience and offered to refund all the money Marsh had contributed to the effort.
The donations were set up, beginning in July, so the Owens campaign could automatically charge Marsh's credit card $50 a month. Marsh told Owens he was happy to give and would want back only the $50 charged to his account in November, since the election was over then.
Owens was happy to comply.