Page:Carter and Crime (Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter 1st debate)(Gerald Ford Library)(1554405).pdf/2

Digitized from Box 1 of the White House Special Files Unit Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library MEMORANDUM

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

September 21, 1976

As Governor, Carter's initiatives in the area of judicial reform have been generally praised. In Phil Stanford's report on Carter for the Citizen's Guide to the 1976 Presidential Candidates, he reported that in 1972 Carter favored a law to extend the use of electronic surveillance equipment by law enforcement officials in cases of theft, extortion, or auto theft; to extend the maximum time for using such devices from ten to twenty days; and to allow information gained from such surveillance to be admitted into evidence. In 1973 he supported reintroduction of the death penalty into Georgia. In that year he also supported legislation to allow judges to deny bail to those arrested for dealing in narcotics. In 1974, he supported legislation setting tough mandatory penalties for those convicted twice of selling hard drugs and making possession of marijuana a misdemeanor.

In an article on Carter as Governor (March 29, 1976), Kenneth Reich reported:

"Besides reorganization, there were a number of other reforms in the Carter administration. They included substantial upgrading of the prison system, which was mired in the old chain-gang mentality, under a new director imported from New England.

By executive order, Carter created a nominating commission to screen candidates for judicial appointment and he supported the establishment of a judicial qualifications commission to discipline or remove dishonest or incapacitated judges.

He sponsored a law requiring judges to retire at age 70 and, to get around a grandfather clause protecting incumbents beyond that age, he offered them a pension supplement if they would retire immediately.