Posted by
NOTLEGALROADKILLYET on Thursday, October 12, 2006 11:12:29 PM
About why the Denver Post would write an editorial that encouraged an action that was so contrary to the public interest.
The more I think about it, I think the answer is ignorance. The Post is a reflexively Democratic paper. In it's collective mind, anything that has the potential to embarrass a Republican official is a good thing. The only problem with this particular reflex is that it shoots the public interest in the foot. If this action proceeds, criminal litigants can declare open season on their opposing litigants knowing that no DA in the state will consider prosecuting them until the civil litigation is complete. With that knowledge, all they have to do is stall until the statute of limitations runs.
It is hard for me to believe that it is so important to the Post to embarrass Republicans that it would do this intentionally and knowingly.
On reflection, the Gazette Telegraph has made some strange editorial decisions this fall, as well, for a conservative paper. It makes me wonder just how qualified these editors are or feel to make judgments about legal issues that have any level of legal sophistication at all.
I am considering making up a 10 question legal "self-test" for editors and legal reporters across the country, involving constitutional and legal issues that are either in the news, have been in the news, or could possibly be in the news. It wouldn't be a trivia test. It would have one level of sophistication above just plain easy. It would be a one sentence essay test, with 50% being passing. How tough could it be? I'd bet plenty tough for these folks.
Look for that in the next day or so. Also, a fun trivia test.