Wednesday, November 08, 2017

No Such Thing ?


My granddaddy Vick told me at a very young age that I should never hesitate to ask a question, because "there is no such thing as a."Dumb" question. And he followed up by saying that even nutty or incomplete answers CAN be informative, if only about the answerer's sources.

But, I think I've found the exception that nullifies Vick's corollary. Leave a comment at the end of this blog if you disagree.

Up in Newark New Jersey they are trying long time Democrat Sen. Robert Menendez for bribery and corruption in federal court The juror selection completed and they were impaneled Monday.

On Tuesday, one of the jurors sent a query to the federal judge in charge of the trial. The juror  requested a transcript of  the Senator's  defense attorney's opening remarks.
In open court, the judge denied this request, ruling that the jury as a whole should establish a common understanding of attorney statements.

Then the same juror had one more question for the judge.

"What is a Senator ?" was the question.  

You may read the story HERE !)

This must be a record low-point in the history of American trial-by-jury history. It might even be globally unique. It is certainly surprising, if not earth shattering, that a talesman weathered the storms of selection and dismissal to be impaneled with such a dearth of knowledge, sense or proportion. 

Under the circumstances, I would crassly affirm that asking a US District Court judge what a Senator " is".... eclipses, in stupidity or vacuousness just about any query imaginable..... Even Bill Clinton's deadpan musing on the true meaning of  the word  "IS"!

I have been touched in my many years by the deprivations suffered by inner-city children to the extent they were unaware of fruit-bearing trees and bluebirds and honeybees.  

But, be it  nescience  or  ignorance, the view here is that this question is disqualifying or maybe even good basis for mistrial.

It will be a long time before this memory fades.