The ACLU has asked Virginia Governor McDonnell to drop two of the questions on the judicial application. According to the Washington Post:
The ACLU of Virginia has asked Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) to revise or remove two questions from his questionnaire for judicial applicants regarding mental and physical disabilities that the group says may violate the American with Disabilities Act.
The questions are: “Have you ever been treated for any emotional or mental illness or condition. If so, please give the particulars.”and “Do you suffer from any impairment of eyesight or hearing or any other physical limitation?”
“These questions are unnecessary, inappropriate, invasive and very likely illegal,” said Kent Willis, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia. “Persons with disabilities fought for many years to eliminate employment and other forms of discrimination against them. The governor’s questions are an affront to them and the law, and we hope he will move swiftly to remove them.”
The application is available. After reading it, it seems far more invasive and inappropriate than just the health questions. Why does the governor need to know what political candidates an applicant has contributed to? I guess you don’t want anyone who has ever contributed to a Democratic candidate. This administration seems to just go by its own set of rules. The hell with HIPAA laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Should judges and other appointment applicants be subjected to questions of this personal of a nature? Should questions like this be part of the initial vetting or should they be part of a final selection? Perhaps this type of question should never be asked. How much do we really get to know about a public servant?