Saturday, September 20, 2008

CRAP FROM HURRICANE IKE 2

Yesterday, in my blog, "Crap From Hurricane Ike," I blogged about the storm bringing out the worst in us. It dealt with the favoritism shown the wealthiest neighborhood in the Houston metropolitan area and the undeserved praise given the Black Panthers by the Houston Chronicle. In yesterday's Chronicle, which I read after the aforementioned blog was published, I saw a letter to the editor which condemned the justice system for its callousness in the wake of the hurricane.

As a former cop, I do not hold attorneys, especially criminal lawyers, in high regard. My favorite lawyer joke goes like this: "What's the difference between a lawyer and a liar? ... The spelling!" The letter writer, Robert J. Fickman, is the former president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (Houston is part of Harris County). His letter makes a mockery of the term "justice." The Chronicle entitled Fickman's letter, "Thoughtless Justice." Here it is:

"The people of Harris County have suffered enough in the last week. More than half are without power. Many are without shelter. People are standing in line for food, water and ice. Many are unable to go to work, and children are out of school. On top of this, there is a shortage of fuel.

With all this hardship, the folks that run the Harris County Criminal Courthouse had an opportunity to show a little humanity this week. The humane and intelligent thing would have been to automatically reset all bond cases for two weeks. That didn't happen. Instead, thousands of people on bond, who are presumed innocent, were required to make routine court appearances beginning on Wednesday, for no good reason.

Adding this additional thoughtless hardship on those at the bottom simply reveals the true nature of Harris County's criminal justice system. There was no need to make these people drive to court during this week of recovery.

Life gives people a chance to define themselves. Those who run the criminal justice system defined themselves as thoughtless and mean-spirited. A little humanity would have gone a long way. Apparently, asking for a little humanity from those that run our courts is asking too much."

Even though I am a hard law and order advocate, I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Fickman. Many people out on bond are poor and can ill afford to drive around looking for fuel which, in the aftermath of the hurricane, is scarce and costly. In view of these trying times, there is simply no excuse for the callousness displayed by those in charge of our local "justice" system. Whatever happened to "temper justice with mercy?"

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