BY COMPARISON: CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS--CHERNOBYL COMES TO WESTERN ILLINOIS

Look, I can't come near explaining this. Just pull up the Journal-Star any day and read about the jolly courthouse relations in Galesburg. I really don't know who did what to who but I recall Abe Lincoln saying if you want to take the true measure of a man, don't give him adversity. Give him power. The hardest thing for good police or prosecutors to do is to handle power gracefully. This elected prosecutor would have to get a lot more graceful just to climb up to clumsy.

It is some saga!

HANCOCK COUNTY ILLINOIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE: A STRAIGHT TALKING PROSECUTOR

The Hancock County State's Attorney was asked whether Ramsey would ever really face death. Bless him, he just answered the freakin' question. No macho demagoging. No hang 'em high speeches. He just answered the question like a civilized human being who had a brain and was attempting to transmit information.

A prosecutor doesn't have to foam at the mouth to be effective. Good on ya', mate! Nice Job, Jim.

DURHAM NIFONG LACROSSE RAPE MESS: SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OF THIS

My modest prediction is that at least one of these young men becomes a lawyer, then becomes a highly placed prosecutor and does more for the cause of justice and good judgment in the decision to charge than would have otherwise occurred if this greasefire hadn't happened. I hope it's Seligman. What an impressive young man.

STATE COURT JUSTICE: A CASH FLOW RECESS

Remember Brian Nichols, the Atlanta area Purpose-Driven Judge Killer?

Well, he's on trial for one of his acts during the crime spree, except he's not. The State Agency responsible for such things has stopped supporting defense expenses after the trial started. In short, the defense can't afford to continue. So the Judge assigned (this judge is still alive) to the matter has just given the State a "time out" so it can get its mind right about paying for the defense.

I have no idea whether this is a Southern Thing, A Racial Thing, A Bureaucratic Thing or an Auditing Thing, but it's damn sure a big thing!

When a major trial is commenced real lives are put through real stress. Just to declare a "half time" doesn't reduce the strain, both emotional and practical on all concerned, especially the next of kin to the decendents and injured in that caper.

To be clear, I'm not criticizing the Judge. What choice did he have? Still, it's not like this is the first major criminal trial in the history of Georgia. There's gotta be a seamless method to fund necessary expenses to keep the justice system going.

After all, this is not Iraq. Oh, wait, they get plenty of money from us. Never mind.