Who needs protection in the courtroom?

To The Eagle:

Patronage is the financial aid or support that an organization or individual bestows to another. Normally the term has a positive connotation.

Last fall, the presiding judges of the superior and district courts requested that the county commissioners fund selected individuals to provide for security during their court sessions. The commissioners denied this request as they should have. However recently, the district court judge proposed to the commissioners a creative set of fees to be levied against defendants to fund court security personnel. These fees will be left to the discretion of the judges on a case-by-case basis, and on the defendant’s ability to pay.

While the commissioners praised the district court judge for a plan not hurting current county expenses, they might have overlooked some additional caveats to this proposal. While we might all agree that some defendants should be punished, I am not sure they should bear the burden of patronage.

One important issue that could have been added to the commissioners endorsement is the establishment of an escrow account to be used to help protect us from some lawyers and some judicial indiscretions? If a defendant can be asked to support patronage, can’t we ask lawyers and judges for some security? I am sure they can afford the fee.

However and in summary, I am still uncertain as to who needs to be protected in the courtroom.

Dennis T. Gordon

Puget Island