Wow! Talk about a mess.

By Joseph Walther

Here are some odds and ends that you may find interesting. They’re interesting in so far as they provide a great opportunity to pose a different perspective. The first deals with the outcome of a court trial and the way some people criticized the “system.” The second deals with the devastating news that a nasty-assed prick of a judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45-days in the slammer. The third deals with little 8-year old Ashley who complained, insistently, that her “mom-mom” makes her wear a sweater, even when it’s hot outside.

It seems, more often than not, that our judicial system receives substandard reviews. It does not matter, really, whether it’s the criminal side of the system or the civil side. The losers always condemn the system, declare the opposing attorneys as bottom-feeding slime balls, and label the judges as judicial activists using their power to legislate from the bench. The winners, conversely, always proclaim the outcome as proof positive that the “system” works. For them, their attorneys are hard working, in relentless pursuit of justice. Simultaneously, the same people passionately advocate their trial judges for judicial sainthood. Strangely, though, they rarely mention the opposing attorneys.

Make no mistake about it. The United States Judicial System is light-years from great and is not even in the same solar system as perfect. But, it isn’t nearly as bad as we permit ourselves to believe. Here are a few reasons why.

Matters judicial receive a great deal of negative coverage on nationally televised evening news, cable station talking head TV shows (FOX, CNN, MSNBC, etc.), and in our national newspapers and magazines. Then, lucky us, we hear about it all over again on our local TV news stations, local talk radio programs, and in local newspapers.

I like to call it the “sir echo” syndrome. In other words, the locals repeat the same stuff because they think it will get us to tune in or read about it. Unfortunately, though, the locals report it with far less broadcast talent. But, it’s not about talent, national or local. It’s about what they report to us and why they report it the way that they do.

In a word, unsubstantiated crap sells. It sells big time when it involves sensationalism—factual or fictional. Outlandish judicial outcomes are especially valuable in retaining TV viewers, radio station listeners, and newspaper readership. We, the people, seem to relish hearing about how sleaze bag lawyers and “liberal” judges are destroying our legal system.

There is no more effective way to convey this message than by reporting a few cases of obvious judicial stupidity. It’s especially efficient with the effective use of innuendo and “accidental” omissions. The fact that the system handles over 95% of its cases quietly, in a judiciously effective manner and with relative fairness to all parties, does not seem to matter.

We never hear the news outlets proclaiming, “The system works,” in those tens of thousands of convictions for everything from DUIs to petty theft to embezzlements to prostitution to armed robbery to murders to… ad infinitum. But let a few dunce-headed judges render a few stupid sentences and we’ll be fed an ad nauseam diet of how screwed up the system is and how we need to reform it.

Switching to Paris Hilton, can you believe the audacity of that judge? Her mommy, Kathy, was livid about it, too. I’m paraphrasing here, but she called the judge something like a moron. It’s hard to believe, huh; a spoiled rich kid’s mother calling a judge a moron.

There is a baseball metaphor concerning spoiled rich kids. I can’t remember the exact wording, but it says, in essence, that being born on third base is not the same as hitting a triple. Its use in describing Paris Hilton is ideal.

Paris Hilton was born on third base. However, it was a matter of circumstance. It’s not like… Paris planned it. Nevertheless, her PARENTS kept her at third base and never explained how she got there or felt compelled to make her appreciate it.

They didn’t plan on spoiling the child. To tell you the truth, I’ve never met parents who looked into the innocent face of their newborn baby and made a list of the many ways they planned to screw the kid up. No matter, they spoiled her just the same.

She’s no longer a child, though. Her parents may have put her on third base, but she’s a mid-twenties young woman now. She’s still spoiled, but her parents are no longer to blame for it. She is.

Maybe this will be the beginning of her attempt to change. I don’t think that a 45-day stint in a Los Angeles County jail is all that it will take. She still does not understand the difference between having been born on third base and getting there by having hit a triple. But it might help. I hope so. If not, someone is going to bean her but good as she attempts to get from third base to home plate!

Finally, I come to Ashley and her “mom-mom.” As I listened to her talking to her mother, it was obvious that Ashley loves her “mom-mom.” Understandably, though, she’s a bit put off by having to wear a sweater on hot days. So, I spoke up and tried to explain something to her.

Now that I’m old enough to be a great grandfather, let alone a grandfather, I’ve learned a few things. Sometimes, when a “mom-mom’ makes you wear a sweater—even when it’s hot out—it’s because “mom-mom” is cold and she assumes that you are, too. You mean more to her than her own life and she doesn’t want you to get sick, Ashley.

Until next week, have fun and stay safe… but not necessarily at the cost of having fun, though. Safe in moderation is OK; otherwise, it can get colossally boring.

Joseph Walther is a freelance writer and publisher of The True Facts. Copyright laws apply to all material on this site. Send your comments. Just click here.