Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Society, Uncategorized

Justice Merely Blind, Not Heartless During Holiday Season

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

An Ohio Judge and two public defenders are in the Spirit. Hearing the plight of a formerly homeless woman attempting to expunge her record of a minor felony, the three came up with the $57.00 needed to pay her restitution and allow the Cleveland native a new lease on life. Said Judge Timothy McCormick, “it seemed like the easiest and best thing to do, especially given the season.” Amen.

Source: msnbc.com

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

17 thoughts on “Justice Merely Blind, Not Heartless During Holiday Season”

  2. PatricP, That was an inspiring recollection, It’s amazing how little it can take to literally save lives. That’s probably where the ‘4 steps to…’ comes in, people can be degraded or elevated with such small changes in their lives. Thanks for sharing that story. Have a great holiday and Merry Christmas (if that’s your wont) to you.

  3. Good story……..

    Kay…..maybe next time…..they will not find you……

  4. Mike S:

    How right you are:

    “I do believe that most people have sympathy and empathy for their fellow humans inspired genetically. Parents, environment and demagogues ofttimes destroy it.”

    ************************

    “Once in Los Angeles I was taken to see the Mexican colony – idle vagabonds, I was told, but to me they seemed to be enjoying more of what makes life a boon and not a curse than fell to the lot of my anxious hard-working hosts. When I tried to explain this feeling, however, I was met with a blank and total lack of comprehension.”

    “People do not always remember that politics, economics, and social organization generally, belong in the realm of means, not ends. Our political and social thinking is prone to what may be called the “administrator’s fallacy,” by which I mean the habit of looking upon a society as a systematic whole, of a sort that is thought good if it is pleasant to contemplate as a model of order, a planned organism with parts neatly dovetailed into each other. But a society does not, or at least should not, exist to satisfy an external survey, but to bring a good life to the individuals who compose it. It is in the individuals, not in the whole, that ultimate value is to be sought. A good society is a means to a good life for those who compose it, not something having a separate kind of excellence on its own account.”

    –Bertrand Russell (“Authority and the Individual”).

  5. I do believe that most people have sympathy and empathy for their fellow humans inspired genetically. Parents, environment and demagogues ofttimes destroy it.

  6. mespo,

    Thanks for the holiday gifts of “goodness.” Looking forward to more…

  7. I recall a situation where we found a homeless couple living under a food service trailer in an abandoned corner of the state fair grounds. My partner & I cruised from one fire station to another, collected about $300, and got these folks into a motel for a week. A couple of nurses at Mercy Hospital ER brought them a bunch of food, and I seem to recall they found jobs for them, too.

    Somebody smarter than I once said we are all only about four steps away from abject poverty. Maybe that’s something worth remembering.

    Have a terrific week, you Poster Princes & Princesses. I’m honored to have found you.

  8. Your title for this story should be the cornerstone of the justice system. It’s nice to see that practitioners in the field are still in touch with that impulse and their own inner angels. Thank you for posting these two uplifting stories.

  10. rafflaw:

    Here in Richmond a few years ago, a obviously economically-challenged lady faced a fine of $200.00 plus costs or 10 days in jail for a misdemeanor offense during the week of Christmas. The Judge was reluctant to punish the lady whose family was anxiously waiting in the Courtroom, however some mandatory time was required by the statute unless restitution was paid and the charge dismissed. Attorney Tony Whaley, in the gallery and waiting for his case to be called, stood up with his checkbook in hand and offered to pay the restitution. Immediately most of the other handful or so of attorneys present as well as the prosecutor offered to do the same. The Judge, seeing the display, dismissed the case upon payment of restitution. The additional monies went to the lady’s children to brighten their Christmas. Not exactly a Christmas miracle or fodder for lawyer jokes, but a very human display of justice tempered by mercy.

  11. Mespo,
    That was one uplifting story! It makes me feel good knowing that there are some judges and Public Defenders who have a heart. I do want to know if the Prosecutors chipped in??

  12. Rich:

    Soory, Rich. I forgot about it at the office today while posting. It’s there now.

  14. Also good on the two unnamed PD’s. Way to rise above and beyond the call of duty there, counselors.

  15. Judge Timothy McCormick . . . good on you. It’s nice to see that some creme still rises in the judiciary. Merry Christmas, your honor.

  16. Does that mean if I am homeless the FBI will expunge my record for “5005 civil contempt” a non existent offense for which the USMS incarcerated me for 5 months without an arraignment, bail hearing, or trial?

  17. $57.00 for a new lease on life that had to be shared by these (3) people to give justice to one.

    Great story,but It tells you how some amongst us be it Christmas or not or struggling just to get by one more day.

Comments are closed.