Newly retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor took on conservative Republican critics of the courts in a speech Thursday. She told an audience at Georgetown University that Republican proposals, and their sometimes uncivil tone, pose a danger to the independence of the judiciary, and the freedoms of all Americans.

I've said several times that I felt that O'Connor's legal career wasn't over just because she retired from the Supreme Court. I have a feeling that this great woman will continue to make public speaking engagements where she calls it like it is. At least, I hope she does.

We must be ever-vigilant against those who would strongarm the judiciary into adopting their preferred policies. It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship, but we should avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings.