5 Sept 17
Courts:
From a friend in the System in OH:
“Recently, an OH judge was nearly murdered on his way to work. He was attacked as he exited his car, in the shadow of the courthouse!
At arm’s length, the murder suspect, using a pistol, fired at the judge. The judge was hit and severely wounded, but nonetheless returned fire with his own pistol, which he carried concealed. A probation officer, who was nearby and also armed, also fired at the suspect.
The suspect, badly wounded, ran across the street to his getaway car, but fell to the ground before entering it.
He was DRT!
Probation officer was unhurt. The judge, though wounded, survived. He was released from the hospital eight days later!
Guns and ammunition used, number and location of wounds, and identification and motivation of the single suspect are still part of the ongoing investigation and are thus-far, unreported.
However, robbery is an unlikely motive. More likely, the judge was attacked in an assassination attempt.
In America, we rely on our courts to fairly adjudicate an expansive range of personal, family, juvenile, business, and criminal disputes.
Our Criminal Justice System rests on five pillars:
1) Police
2) Prosecutors
3) Defense Council
4) Courts
5) Corrections
In America, all criminal defendants, no matter the accusation, deserve and rate competent representation.
And yes, our System, both in concept and execution, is far from perfect. No dispute there. In fact our System sucks, except for all the ‘other’ Systems!
Our Courts represent the Third Branch of Government, and are uniquely able to put a stop to extra-Constitutional abuses, by either executive or legislative branches.
When its officers are not free to travel to their places of work, without the threat of violence, and are under constant threat of violence at other times and places, we proceed, by a short route, to chaos!
Fortunately, we here in OH are inside a pretty secure courthouse complex, guarded by well-trained, well-lead and well-equipped deputy sheriffs. I am more concerned about what happens during the other sixteen hours of the day that Court Officers aren’t within our relatively secure courthouse.
Greatest courthouse danger, in my experience, is seldom associated with criminal cases. The innocent, who have been wrongly accused, do their best to look and act like the good and decent people they are. The guilty, also act nicely (though less convincingly, because it is an ‘act’), almost always putting on their best face too.
By contrast, dissolution/divorce/child-custody cases are always downright scary, and dangerous!”
Comment: It’s time for all judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and all other Officers of the Court to get competent training and go armed, all the time!
Officers of the Court must assume a personal responsibility to protect themselves, and our System (imperfect as it is)!
Civilization, ours and all others, is delicate and easily lost!
When we all ‘don’t love freedom enough,’ we’ll soon join those wretched souls who are, at this moment, discovering what living without it is like!
/John
