12.May.2010 NEWS MEDIA AVOIDS DECISION NEWS
Although not really unexpected, I notice that today’s Grand Forks Herald did not even have one line about yesterday’s decision by the ND Supreme Court that we are entitled to a jury trial for a $20 city ordinance violation. Last year, in a similar, but probably less important case, and which was lost by some of the best lawyers in the state, the media gave wide coverage to the ruling that this same jury right rule did NOT apply to county ordinances.
It seems too bad, that main stream media, instead of defending the rights of the public, often acts as the 4th arm of government whose job it is to white wash whatever the government does?
A few years ago I also won a significant ruling in the ND Supreme Court that men hauled into court and charged with civil contempt for not paying spousal or child support, had the right to an attorney and the right against self incrimination. A very important right that anyone charged with contempt of court would give his right arm to know. Yet, the ND news media has never released that information to the public, and the courts generally just ignore the ruling and continue doing what they have always been doing best, tossing people in jail with no regards to their legal rights.
Roland
smith 