Well, of course not! Parade Magazine had an article in March on page 10 entitled, Can Judges Be Bought? This article is worth re-printing because of highly suspect decisions even here in Palm Beach County. We know there is a stronghold of developer and lobbyist money that has been a corrupt influence on the best of people even as far up as the governor’s office or even beyond.
What we also know and have for a very long time, it is the guy who can afford the best defense that has the best chance of getting a favorable ruling. Look at O.J. Simpson if you disagree with me. Money talks; it always has. It is the guy who raises the most money who has the best chance of getting elected.
P.B. County Commissioner, Jeff Koons, recently said, "We have had individual commissioners make bad decisions, but we think our system and controls in Palm Beach County can prevent it." What controls, Commissioner? And where is Lake Worth’s Ethics Policy?
We have seen the erosion of integrity on many levels involving various professions that we used to consider beyond reproach. We read about doctors committing fraud. We read about priests stealing from the Church. We read about elected officials accepting this free lunch here and that weekend excursion there. The list goes on and it continues daily. We have no idea what is going on under the table. No more do we trust those who once held our utmost esteem and judges are suspect because of the very way they decide some cases. Why should they have any more integrity than anyone else? Because we think they should? Judges get no reprieve.
READ THE ARTICLE
