Comments on: Morgan Will End Greetings For Prospective Jurors After Disagreement With Federal Judges

By: MattGMD

MattGMD — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:18:26 +0000

For claiming to have such regard for the judicial branch, Morgan certainly sounds highly contemptuous of the judge’s very reasonable decision. His indignant outburst at being told, basically, to stop his bizarre meet and greet ritual could cause one to wonder if the purpose was not so innocent to begin with. Keep in mind the vast majority of people never have any personal interaction with elected officials. Suddenly meeting the local sheriff “in person” most certainly could sway someone’s opinion in favor of the prosecution and law enforcement in a case. To claim otherwise is disingenuous.

By: Some Guy

Some Guy — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:41:29 +0000

The question is, what role does the Sheriff play in law enforcement in his state? If theirs is one of just transporting prisoners and guarding the courthouse, I don’t have much of a problem with what he did, but if the Sheriff is active in law enforcement (i.e., they ARE the local police), then what he’s doing is wrong.

If he chooses to meet those people in street clothes without identifying himself as anything other than a citizen, then his actions are protected IMHO, but by greeting them in his official capacity, I don’t believe he can claim “free speech”.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:47:14 +0000

I read the full text of the linked Sheriff’s letter; the story itself does not appear to mention the possibly significant relevant fact that the Sheriff was the’face’ of the case going to trial. I’m not familiar with the case but I can understand why the lawyer asked for the sheriff not to do the meet & greet when he was quite associated with the case going to trial. The judge’s quote used seems quite sensible.

By: even Steven..

even Steven.. — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:16:51 +0000

The sheriff and those under him are very interested parties in many of the cases that will be heard by the potential jurors. A defendant shaking hands outside the courthouse and handing out business cards would be bared for deliberately attempting to prejudice the jurors in his favor. The sheriff is charged with enforcing the law, Judges are, impartial and are to oversee the trial and steward of the law as to the cases before him in a jury trial.
I do hope the Sheriff understands these points, but im of the opinion that he may not. If so that is worrying.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:59:56 +0000

Im never more surprised at the stupidity of others, than those on line. To not understand that just because you post under another name, you are not anonymous….. good luck with your county.

By: vlad tepes

vlad tepes — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:41:20 +0000

I never cease to be shocked by the whiny, aggressive, arrogant stupidity of most people today. In what way, EXACTLY, can someone be “influenced” by having a Sheriff say “hi, thanks for coming in”.? If you come up with your necessarily flawed, infantile argument, you’ve got to answer “how are people not “unduly influenced” by the judge ever saying anything at all to the jury”?

America has become a nation of ignorant, immoral, lazy, stupid people. As society devolves, we are getting EXACTLY what we deserve for not telling the weak, stupid and malevolent to sit down and shut up.

I used to put them on sticks….A kind of people-kabob forest. Worked pretty well.

By: bobk

bobk — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:53:06 +0000

It sounds like Mr. Morgan is a great sheriff, but there is a question about jurors being influenced before the trials. Why not let him thank them after the trial for their service? No one would object to that.

By: Sapper

Sapper — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:35:58 +0000

You know, I feel weird on this one. Normally I don’t agree with law enforcement officials and many of their practices. In this case I feel nothing wrong was done. An elected official takes time out his schedule to thank members of the public for performing their civic duty. An unpleasant and inconvenient duty that most of us try to avoid any way we can. It’s not as though he just started to do this in an attempt to sway a particular case, he has been doing this as often as possible since 2007.

I think it’s a shame that he had to stop his practice. The sheriff doesn’t want to create a circus of the judicial system so he withdrew. I only wish he could have told them to pound sand without loosing a reelection over it.

They should make the judges great them every Monday as well.

By: even Steven..

even Steven.. — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:24:47 +0000

While it may be Sheriff Morgan is just showing his thanks to the jurors, it does raise issues for the courts. When is it acceptable for a member of the legal process to glad hand a juror? To taint the court by touching and looking the person of a juror in the face Before a trial has taken place, is, well lets be honest, tampering with the system.
Most citizens are, by tact agreement, in a place of weakness in dealing with law enforcement; We the public place our very lives in the hands of said officers and as such it places a possible shadow over the preceding’ s if higher up law officers shows him/herself to be interested in the outcome. so much so, he has taken time out of his very busy day to thank those sitting in judgment at trial.
In this light, how could any person, who wishes to receive a “fair” trial, want to see those about to decide their fate shaking hands with the “top cop”.
Of course, its context here. The Sheriff may shake the hand of anyone whom wishes to do the same, just not in such a way as to invite claims of improper motives.
I would also like to point out that putting a citizen in the awkward position of refusing to shake the hand of a top law enforcement officer, is poorly thought out on his and his staffs part. But im willing to believe that Everyone wants the honor, if you do……
just my opinion on the subject…..

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:01:04 +0000

Don’t pluralize nouns by using an apostrophe.

“Good Morning, I’m Sheriff David Morgan. I attempt to get down here on as many Monday’s as possible to thank you for answering the jury summons.”

That word would be written as Mondays. The only exceptions to this are when pluralizing single characters and words that end with ch (follow the word with es, such as sandwiches).

Please be literate before attempting to craft literature. Thanks.