Romney Criticizes Gingrich's Plan for Federal Judges

Newt Gingrich may be beating the drum on grotesquely dictatorial judges, but fellow GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney is dialing down the rhetoric against the judiciary.

Without mentioning the former House speaker's name, Romney Tuesday criticized Gingrich's plan to let Congress subpoena judges to explain controversial decisions and abolish entire judicial districts for unpopular rulings, The Boston Globe reported.

Then we make a super branch known as Congress, Romney said at a campaign stop in New Hampshire. We have a balance of power constitutionally, and I don't want one branch, Congress, or even the president, to assume power above the other branches.

He said giving Congress such power would allow both parties to control the judiciary.

Every few years, you'd have elected Congress people changing the rulings of the Supreme Court, Romney said, in response to a voter's question about extreme rulings, the Globe reported.

Romney reportedly said that he would appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn such rulings.

Gingrich has been the only presidential contender to propose a sweeping plan to rein in a branch of government he said has been waging a fundamental assault on our liberties. Even Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has lambasted U.S. Supreme Court justices as unaccountable legislators, has a more tempered approach to dealing with federal judges, calling for an end to life-time appointments.

Romney said at the last GOP presidential debate that the executive and legislative branches have the necessary tools to overturn controversial decisions.

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