Because everyone loves a judge in uniform

The answer to the question below seems to me to be a deep vein of authoritarianism in mainstream conservatism that belies its ostensible libertarian roots. There is a glorious sense of righteous application through guys in braid and gilt with the power of the sword behind them. And obviously it's okay to use that route for Them (but never, ever for Us) because, of course, they are clearly Guilty and Evil.