Federal Judge Says Supreme Court Should Just 'STFU'

A federal judge thinks it's time for the Supreme Court to just "stfu."

Writing on his personal blog in response to the high court's recent 5-4 decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, U.S. District Judge Richard George Kopf harshly criticized the justices for taking what he sees as a too active role in controversial cases.

"This term and several past terms has proven that the Court is now causing more harm (division) to our democracy than good by deciding hot button cases that the Court has the power to avoid," Kopf, a George H.W. Bush appointee, wrote. "As the kids says, it is time for the Court to stfu."

For clarity, Kopf included a link to the Urban Dictionary definition for "stfu": "Acronym used for the phrase 'shut the fuck up' for efficiency reasons."

Pointing out that all five justices who decided in favor of Hobby Lobby are Catholic males appointed by Republican presidents, Kopf argued that the decision "looks stupid and smells worse."

"While 'looks' don’t matter to the logic of the law (and I am not saying the Justices are actually motivated by such things), all of us know from experience that appearances matter to the public’s acceptance of the law," he wrote.

As Raw Story notes, Kopf has a history of blunt commentary.

Last fall, following the shutdown of the federal government at the hands of congressional lawmakers, the judge said it was "time to tell Congress to go to hell." And earlier this year, Kopf expressed regrets after writing that female lawyers should "tone it down" and dress more conservatively in court.

(h/t ThinkProgress)

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that George W. Bush appointed Kopf.