NARAL is calling on abortion supporters to sign a petition urging Nebraska to investigate Judge Peter Bataillon, after he denied a request for a Judicial Waiver of Parental Notice of Abortion. Because he made a decision they disagree with, NARAL now wants Judge Bataillon investigated on the basis that he once represented members of the pro-life group Operation Rescue, and was once the President of a local Right to Life organization. Apparently, NARAL thinks being pro-life means you aren’t qualified to be a judge.

Unfortunately for NARAL, there is no way for Nebraska to investigate the judicial decisions made by a judge due to a little thing called “Judicial Immunity”. Basically, this means that a judge cannot be held liable in civil or criminal court for a ruling made from the bench. In the case Bradley v. Fisher in 1872, the Supreme Court ruled that “A judicial officer, in exercising the authority vested in him, should be free to act upon his own convictions, w/o apprehension of personal consequences to himself. “ This is precisely what Judge Bataillon did, and he cannot and should not be punished for doing his job.

NARAL is calling on abortion supporters to sign a petition urging Nebraska to investigate Judge Peter Bataillon, after he denied a request for a Judicial Waiver of Parental Notice of Abortion. Because he made a decision they disagree with, NARAL now wants Judge Bataillon investigated on the basis that he once represented members of the pro-life group Operation Rescue, and was once the President of a local Right to Life organization. Apparently, NARAL thinks being pro-life means you aren’t qualified to be a judge.

Unfortunately for NARAL, there is no way for Nebraska to investigate the judicial decisions made by a judge due to a little thing called “Judicial Immunity”. Basically, this means that a judge cannot be held liable in civil or criminal court for a ruling made from the bench. In the case Bradley v. Fisher in 1872, the Supreme Court ruled that “A judicial officer, in exercising the authority vested in him, should be free to act upon his own convictions, w/o apprehension of personal consequences to himself. “ This is precisely what Judge Bataillon did, and he cannot and should not be punished for doing his job.

These allegations are clearly false- not only did the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that Judge Bataillon made the correct ruling, but in his 2012 State Bar Association Rankings 89.6% of lawyers recommended that he retain his position on the bench, with impartiality and fairness being factors in that ranking.