The U.S. takes pride in the fundamental integrity of its courts. But last week, in the New York election, citizens learned by what precarious threads their pride sometimes hangs.
In Manhattan and The Bronx,, voters sent to their State Supreme Court, to serve for 14 years at a salary of $22,500 yearly (total: $315,000), a scandal-tarred candidate named Thomas A. Aurelio. Thus ended an object lesson in perversion of the democratic process.
Error One. Thomas Aurelio, who had a respectable record as a Manhattan magistrate, was one of two candidates nominated by the Democratic...