Jail
Ok this is a rant.
On the cover of today's Chicago Tribune, (which some lady on the bus offered to me after she saw me trying to read it sideways over her shoulder) is an article about Guatanamo Bay. A human rights atrocity, for sure. Did you know that President Bush has excluded Guatanamo Bay from the being covered by the laws of the Geneva Convention, saying that none of the prisoners there are "defending a state." So, because they're not actually prisoners of war there are no norms of humane treatment that have to be followed regarding their care and treatment? Cheney and Rumsfield put on their little PR hats and spent a good chunk of time defending the money-draining, Koran-desecrating, human rights abomination that is the jail at Guatanamo Bay. It makes me sick.
Now, a little closer to home. Michael Sheahan, the sheriff for Cook County, has recently decreed that young lawyers from several law firms are no longer allowed to take tours of Cook County Jail as has been the traditions for decades. The firms that were denied access happen to be firms that have sued Sheahan for one reason or another since he was originally elected back in 1991. Hello? Government transparency? This is obviously an example of Sheahan throwing his weight around. Check out this editorial in today's Chi Trib:
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Mike Sheahan's petulance
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June 15, 2005
Michael Sheahan is the sheriff of Cook County. He's not king. Somebody ought to tell him that.
Sheahan has decreed that the law students who are serving internships with two prestigious Chicago law firms cannot take tours of Cook County Jail. Why? He doesn't like that the firms have filed lawsuits against the sheriff's office in the past.
The tours, a tradition at some firms, serve as an educational excursion for aspiring attorneys. Summer associates get to see an important piece of the criminal justice system. The tours help to motivate young attorneys in private firms to take on pro bono work on behalf of indigent clients.
That's exactly what Sheahan doesn't like.
As if the jail were some kind of private family business, or his personal fiefdom, Sheahan has decided these particular firms may no longer enter his gates unless they sign waivers promising they will never again bring a lawsuit against the sheriff's office.
These aren't some storefront-shingle law offices getting the bully treatment from the sheriff. We're talking about Winston & Strawn and Jenner & Block. And they hardly decided to make the sheriff a target. Winston & Strawn represented one jail inmate, Stanley Jones, in a lawsuit alleging that he was beaten by gang members while in custody awaiting trial. A federal judge appointed a representative of the firm to represent Jones. The case eventually was settled out of court for $250,000.
Sheahan does have a problem with costly court settlements stemming from jail brutality complaints. He has nagging administrative issues to contend with, ranging from bumbling employees to strong-arming consiglieres who get overzealous.
But he's not going to make those troubles go away by acting in imperious fashion against two of the city's most prominent law firms. He's just going to look like a petulant, imperious bully.
Sheriff, the jail belongs to taxpayers. And so does your job.
Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune
On the cover of today's Chicago Tribune, (which some lady on the bus offered to me after she saw me trying to read it sideways over her shoulder) is an article about Guatanamo Bay. A human rights atrocity, for sure. Did you know that President Bush has excluded Guatanamo Bay from the being covered by the laws of the Geneva Convention, saying that none of the prisoners there are "defending a state." So, because they're not actually prisoners of war there are no norms of humane treatment that have to be followed regarding their care and treatment? Cheney and Rumsfield put on their little PR hats and spent a good chunk of time defending the money-draining, Koran-desecrating, human rights abomination that is the jail at Guatanamo Bay. It makes me sick.
Now, a little closer to home. Michael Sheahan, the sheriff for Cook County, has recently decreed that young lawyers from several law firms are no longer allowed to take tours of Cook County Jail as has been the traditions for decades. The firms that were denied access happen to be firms that have sued Sheahan for one reason or another since he was originally elected back in 1991. Hello? Government transparency? This is obviously an example of Sheahan throwing his weight around. Check out this editorial in today's Chi Trib:
-------------------
Mike Sheahan's petulance
--------------------
June 15, 2005
Michael Sheahan is the sheriff of Cook County. He's not king. Somebody ought to tell him that.
Sheahan has decreed that the law students who are serving internships with two prestigious Chicago law firms cannot take tours of Cook County Jail. Why? He doesn't like that the firms have filed lawsuits against the sheriff's office in the past.
The tours, a tradition at some firms, serve as an educational excursion for aspiring attorneys. Summer associates get to see an important piece of the criminal justice system. The tours help to motivate young attorneys in private firms to take on pro bono work on behalf of indigent clients.
That's exactly what Sheahan doesn't like.
As if the jail were some kind of private family business, or his personal fiefdom, Sheahan has decided these particular firms may no longer enter his gates unless they sign waivers promising they will never again bring a lawsuit against the sheriff's office.
These aren't some storefront-shingle law offices getting the bully treatment from the sheriff. We're talking about Winston & Strawn and Jenner & Block. And they hardly decided to make the sheriff a target. Winston & Strawn represented one jail inmate, Stanley Jones, in a lawsuit alleging that he was beaten by gang members while in custody awaiting trial. A federal judge appointed a representative of the firm to represent Jones. The case eventually was settled out of court for $250,000.
Sheahan does have a problem with costly court settlements stemming from jail brutality complaints. He has nagging administrative issues to contend with, ranging from bumbling employees to strong-arming consiglieres who get overzealous.
But he's not going to make those troubles go away by acting in imperious fashion against two of the city's most prominent law firms. He's just going to look like a petulant, imperious bully.
Sheriff, the jail belongs to taxpayers. And so does your job.
Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune
posted by M at 9:48 AM
1 Comments:
Did you read Durbin's statement on Guantanamo and the Bush administration? Good for him he didn't want to apologize! But it friggin' sucks that he's now a right-wing target.
P.S. Great seeing you!
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