One thing that military commanders are sensitive to is the concept of \u201ccommand influence\u201d in criminal matters. Best I can tell (I\u2019m not a lawyer), it\u2019s one of the easiest ways to get a slam-dunk court-martial case thrown out or set aside.<\/p>\n
But apparently the rules in Missouri must bere very different. The \u201cesteemed, wise\u201d governor of that state, Jay Nixon, has publicly said that \u201ca vigorous prosecution must now be pursued\u201d in the Ferguson shooting case<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, as I said above \u2013 I\u2019m no lawyer. But it seems to me that that statement fits the dictionary definition of one that is \u201cprejudicial\u201d to the investigation.\u00a0 That is, it’s a statement that shows someone in authority has already determined the desired outcome of the investigation, and is blatantly attempting to influence the outcome.<\/p>\n I wasn\u2019t at the site of the shooting, so I don\u2019t know what happened. That\u2019s for an investigation to determine \u2013 a fair and impartial investigation.<\/p>\n But last time I checked, the same is true of Governor Nixon<\/em>. So, tell me: why is he publicly calling for a \u201cvigorous prosecution\u201d of a case that hasn\u2019t even been freaking completely investigated yet<\/em>, or brought before a damned grand jury?<\/p>\n Frankly, this smacks of the old Soviet-era \u201cshow trial\u201d mentality.\u00a0 As in, \u201cWe don\u2019t give a flying f**k if the guy is actually guilty or not; we\u2019re going to convict him for political purposes anyway \u2013 justice be damned\u201d.<\/p>\n If the cop involved is found to have committed a crime, he should indeed be tried and \u2013 if found guilty \u2013 do time.\u00a0 But at this point, the best I can tell nothing has yet determined regarding whether a crime was committed<\/em>.\u00a0 In fact, accounts emerging appear to points to the conclusion that the cop just might be telling the truth<\/a> about what happened. Or perhaps not.<\/p>\n Bottom line:\u00a0 right now we just don’t freaking know the score.\u00a0 And neither does Governor Nixon<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n We don\u2019t need Governors decreeing the results of legal investigations a priori<\/em>, or trying to pressure prosecutors or investigators into conducting prosecutions for political purposes.\u00a0 Ditto the US Attorney General\u2019s office.\u00a0 Allegedly, this country operates under the rule of law – not according to the\u00a0 whims of those in power.<\/p>\n Rule by fiat and politicized justice was the kind of sh!t went on in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, and in Mao’s China – as well as numerous other communist and non-communist dictatorships throughout history.\u00a0 It was wrong there and then; it would be even worse here and now, since we (the US) purport to obey the rule of law \u2013 and claim that justice should be blind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (PS – if you’re wondering what might possibly be Governor Nixon’s political motive here, check out the first linked article.\u00a0 It identifies Govern Nixon’s political affiliation.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"