Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts

September 26, 2020

Jury Duty and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 Spent interesting 7 days on a criminal jury.  Multiple charges at different locations, and defendant had already plead guilty to one charge. 

Everyone took their responsibilities seriously. The issues were complex and everyone spoke up clearly their views and why they held them. Several people were undecided on certain positions and listened to the debate and reviewed evidence. Respect led to good decisions by the jury.

Judge O Snohomish County Superior Court was impressive how he kept order and respect. He kept testimony moving and made decisions outside the jury’s view. Also apologized for some of the inconveniences of the courtroom and Covid19 safety measures. 

Observed the prosecutor and defendant’s attorney work together with respect. Spent more time with police, bailiffs and security attending court. They treated everyone professionally and respectfully. Use to spend more time with police when use to shoot competitively, and found enjoyed their company. With all the protests, still is important to remember everyone is human.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg passing was a surprise after we were done. RBG made our law and country better by pointing out how lesser status hurt both men and women. There is room in our country for rights for everyone, and RBG’s eloquent descents often made it clear. They will be studied for years to come.

Her marriage was a supportive partnership and family. Guests and friends always welcome. Marvin Ginsburg retired as Tax Attorney with her appointment to the Supreme Court. "She doesn't talk to me about cooking, and I don't talk to her about law." 

Her friendships with people who didn’t agree with her views like Antonio ‘Nino’ Scalia are an example how to live in these times. Her life is a testament of trying to improve peoples lives and being human herself. 

Do not have the spelling nor able to pronounce last name of the judge, but think heard a Caribbean accent. He and many other judges who do not fit the old image of judges are part of RGB’s legacy.



July 8, 2016

All Lives Matter


It has been a rough week. None of these make sense. Take a deep breathe:
Philando Castile should not have died in Minnesota. A man announcing he has a permit is unlikely ever to threaten a police officer with his gun. To get a permit he has to prove his law-abiding status. Why was the officer so afraid? All because a light was burnt out?

Alton Sterling was selling home made CDs outside a store where he had been selling for years. There was a complaint about him. Why would a unlicensed business be penalized more than a fine? The most he should have gotten was a ticket. Not two police wrestling him to the ground and then shooting him. He did not deserve to die.
The Dallas police were there to protect a peaceful protest. How did a lone shooter choose to kill 5, wound 7 others plus 2 civilians? He did not surrender and wanted to die fighting the police to kill more. Why Dallas police officers? 
The Dallas police have an enviable record of community policing, deescalating situations, training officers, and crime rates Chicago and Washington DC would be jealous of in a vibrant international city. They did not deserve to die.
Lets not forget the most killings this week: Suicides take twice as many lives than all other gun incidents combined.
Nor let us forget the homeless people attacked and killed in San Diego while they slept.
Banning guns will not stop crime nor suicides. If anything crime rates go up. Dallas has a high number of permit holders, and the crime rate has gone down in the years since the law was changed to allow anyone with a clean record who takes safety training a permit. 
What we need to remember is most people are good. We count on our police to deal with difficult people, drunk or high, the mentally ill, and normal civilians. Bad cops exist like bad people exist in any organization. But by and large most people should be treated with respect.
We have to become We again. You may have different views, vote for different candidates, go to different churches or no church, have different ethnicities, grew up in other countries, dress different, or like different music. Under the skin we are all people who bleed the same, hurt when we lose loved ones, and love our children.
Greet your neighbors and strangers on the street. Show respect and care. It is time to make communities, not enemies. It starts with us.

  3:15 am attack on Bourbon Street, New Orleans this morning. This tragic attack killed 10 and injured ~35 including 2 police officers. Most...