Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Judging Crimes

Criminal Law

: Judging Crimes

373. Oh, well, that's okay, then

By Joel Jacobsen

In New Mexico Territory, an Army colonel faced a court of inquiry - the equivalent of a grand jury or preliminary hearing - looking into his conduct. It seems that he marched his troops into town where they laid siege to the private residence of a person against whom the colonel had taken a personal dislike. The house was set on fire and the inhabitants shot at as they fled, causing several deaths although one man, known as Bill Bonney, escaped. Even before the inevitable result of the court of inquiry was announced, a lawyer pursuing the matter in civilian court blogged about it, 19th century style, by commenting to the press. Military courts of inquiry, this lawyer said, are an expensive and stupendous farce, and are conducted on mutual admiration principles, and if there is the least possible excuse for applying the white-wash to a military man, it will be done, without regard to the beauty and symmetry of the job, and this is especially so when the complaint comes from a civilian...continue to full post

Full post as published by Judging Crimes on April 05, 2009 (boomark / email).