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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Northampton County's Judges Hold Us In Contempt

Attytood tells us the Supreme Court's Antonin Scalia is complaining about the press and their complete inability to understand the important work done by our judges. Scalia is especially upset now that the Internet and blogosphere are in on the action. "This is not just like somebody handing out a leaflet in the past, where a small number of people can see this," he said. "This is available to the world. ... It changes what it means to be a judge. It certainly changes the attractiveness of a judicial career."

Well, Scalia would love Northampton County. Let me tell you about our judges. They have their own little private entrance and exit at the new courthouse expansion so they don't have to mingle with the dangerous public. Unlike the rest of us, their little door is located very close to their reserved parking places. They have their very own floor at the new courthouse expansion, and most of them even have private judicial potties. No one is authorized access to the judges' private floor. That's their turf, baby. And if a fire or other problem breaks out, I've been told sheriffs don't even have keys to this inner sanctum. Each has his own butler, called a tipstaff, who clears the way as judges parade down halls. Two or three deputy sheriffs are assigned to each courtroom. And they have their own little private dining room atop the courthouse rotunda, where they can discuss their trips to Europe. The justification for all of this coddling? Security.

In the process, our judges have become isolated from the very public they are supposed to serve. They've lost touch. The most recent example of this is demonstrated by a judge who recently approached deputies just a few days ago with "security" concerns about a title searcher who frequents the courthouse. This searcher was a recent club fed guest as a result of his anti-war activities. I don't care for this fellow, but he's no security threat. He's a frickin' pacifist. But that scared a judge.

Scalia and our own local judges demonstrate, in attitude and actions, that they have little regard for the First Amendment. And it's time Northampton's judges recognize that the new courthouse belongs to the public, not them.

10 comments:

LSTresidentPIA said...

Are you kidding Bernie? There ain't nothing about the county courthouse that is public friendly other than the tab.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You know that first hand! You had a rought time just getting in to the damn building for a meeting of county council. Thanks for your comment.

Anonymous said...

The Judges even took away card access from the attorneys. Attorneys were allowed to use their id cards to enter the building, and avoid the security and metal detectors. Not anymore. Judge Freedburg ordered it to stop.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I understand that the court has now relented and is authorizing issuance of cards for attorneys. I'll check into that.

Anonymous said...

Moshki posted here; it went bye-bye.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I'm sorry the comment was lost. Blogger went crazy tonight and I couldn't get on the site. I'm sorry that your comment didn't post.

Anonymous said...

The long dresses-gods didn't want any anti-Scalia posts, it would appear.

'Antwon' is a good friend of Limbaugh's.

Thanks to "Nature's God" for these
two ...............whatever they are.

Anonymous said...

I work in a local government facility and let me tell you something. Security SHOULD be the number one concern. How dare you mock the court staff for taking security seriously.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I work in a government facility, too. These security concerns are more the rewsult of paranoia than anything else. And it's an excuse to hire a lot of people in our new security industry whose motto is "Be afraid, be very afraid." So I will mock what I consider ridiculous. But I thank you for your comments. Your view is certainly the majority view right now. Hopefully, that will change in time.

Bernie O'Hare said...

And actually, I wasn't mocking the hired help. I was mocking the judges.