Law: System Spoiled

Fewer plums for party faithful?

To the victor belong the spoils. That old political adage may have been laid to rest last week when the Supreme Court ruled that government employees cannot be routinely fired by a new administration simply because of their political affiliation. Critics, including two of the three dissenting Justices, quickly claimed that by striking a blow against the traditional patronage system, the decision could injure the already ailing political parties.

The case before the court was brought by two assistant public defenders from Rockland County, N.Y., both Republicans. When a...