WAJA President Peter Quaqua writes
“Legislative Tyranny?
Even those accused of the worst crimes—war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape, armed robbery—are accorded due process. That’s how justice works. It is what separates law from revenge and democracy from tyranny.
Due process means you do not punish first and explain later. It means people must be heard, procedures must be followed, and decisions must be fair.
So, when a legislature acts with unusual speed, sidesteps established procedures, or appears to disregard the authority of the Supreme Court, it raises serious constitutional concerns—not mere political questions. This is not about personalities. It is about power. Why the rush?
You see, when rules are bent or ignored to target one individual today, a precedent is set for the abuse of power tomorrow. That is how democratic erosion begins— with calculated shortcuts and selective respect for the law.
This is what legislative tyranny looks like: when a body entrusted with making laws begins to act as though it is above them. Not that the legislature should not exercise power, but because power without restraint becomes dangerous.
A body created to protect democracy must never become careless with the principles that sustain it. It sends a wrong message—that fairness is negotiable, that legal safeguards can be bypassed. This is unacceptable in any constitutional democracy.
Make no mistake, if the law cannot protect the unpopular, it cannot protect anyone. And when fairness becomes conditional, justice itself is no longer secure—it becomes a tool of power.”
