(9/28/2014 update) Frank Daniels editorializing in today's Tennessean says he has lost a lot of respect for newly elected DA Glenn Funk, because Funk is refusing to indict Ramsey and Harwell. See, Will Nashville's new DA ignore grand jury?
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A Nashville grand jury is recommending Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell face charges for manipulating the rules when it comes to judges.
Ramsey and Harwell have not been charged with anything at this point, it is simply a recommendation from the grand jury for the district attorney to consider. (link)
My Comment: I would hate to see either indicted, but maybe they should be. I like both Harwell and Ramsey, but elected officials should not just ignore the law when they don't like the law. That is the same thing President Obama has done time and time again. President Obama should not ignore the Federal Constitution and Ramsey and Harwell should not ignore the State Constitution. Elected officials should follow the law.
What this is about is appointments to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission which makes recommendation as to which appellate judges should be retained or replaced. The Commission no longer exist as of June 30, 2014. However, the law that was in effect the last time appointments were made said that the commission should "mirror" the state in its makeup of women and minorities. It did not. The last commission was comprised of seven white men, one white woman and one African-American woman.
Harwell's office said she appointed four commissioners, two men and two women, including a Hispanic person and an African-American person. Assuming that is true, Harwell did follow the law, but not Ramsey. Just because you don't like a law (and I don't like this law) it should not be ignored. The rule of law is too important to allow laws to be ignored. (For more on this, follow this link and this link.)
Top Stories
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment