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A travesty of justice
This is in response to District Judge Michael J. Haley's Forum in the Record-Eagle on Nov. 19.
Judge Haley lectured about the meritless cheap shot by the Record-Eagle and the paper's confusion regarding the responsibilities of the judiciary and executive branch.
Judge Haley forgets, it wasn't so long ago that we had a perfect example of the responsibilities between the two branches of government that left no confusion. On June 1, 2010, officer Kip Needham got drunk, beat up two women, and when they called for help, feloniously assaulted two police officers with his loaded county-issued pistol -- serious offenses that merited prison.
However, the executive branch (Grand Traverse County Prosecutor) Alan Schneider and the judiciary, Judge Haley, demonstrated those responsibilities brilliantly. Kip Needham was let off with a misdemeanor, i.e., a slap on the wrist, because he was a police officer. Ordinary citizens go to prison. To quote Judge Haley, "our justice system is transparent and accountable. And it works."
Not always. It didn't prevent a travesty of justice.
Robert J. Carey
Kalkaska
The writer is an attorney.
