THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408250588
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A7 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
For the People of Norfolk and Virginia, my brothers and sisters:
I am a judge. A judge is permitted to engage in political activity to improve the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice. Today, I engage in that political activity. Few judges will do what I do, because the risks are great. The other politicians make the rules, and by their rules, a judge may be threatened by a few with the loss of his or her judicial life. The other politicians may lie, but they risk only the scorn of the people. A judge must only tell the truth. Even if it only looks like a judge is not telling the truth, then he or she may be (politically) killed as a judge. Most judges say it is silly to take such a risk. I say there can be no higher honor than to be (politically) killed in the service of your people.
There is only one member of a recognized Indian Tribe who serves as a judge in Virginia. It is I. And, I serve not at the top, but at the very bottom, which most of you call a district criminal court. As a Cherokee judge, I say to the world that I am a savage. I am proud to be known as a Redskin, an Indian, a quarter-breed and even a Scotch-Irish, who many called savage. Call me those names, and I will answer proudly. Because I am a Savage, I love your children, as I love mine. Because I am a Savage, I am concerned about your peace and happiness. I want to do what's best for all of our people, including you. Because I am a Savage, I put the welfare of your family equal to that of mine. For you, I stand up against the disease many call civilization, but which is in reality greed and hunger for power so that a few families can be safe and comfortable, while those of the people must suffer and know no peace.
For those of you who live in fear of being shot, and for the women who live in fear of being beaten, I want to tell you that for many months I have been trying to get prosecutors to help some of you when you come to my court. You understand that I must in fairness give an appointed lawyer to the defendants because they risk going to jail. But what about fairness for the victim? How can anyone say it's fair for only one side to have a lawyer.
Prosecutors are lawyers, and they are paid by you!. . .
Now, about justice politics and activity.
I respect Doug Wilder, Marshall Coleman, Ollie North and Chuck Robb. Each is human, and surely has made mistakes. All their mistakes together probably don't add up to the mistakes I've made in life. So today, I have two questions from the front lines of the battlefield for each of those four who would be servants of the people. All of you say much about punishment of crime. All of you say you want the people to be safe from handgun violence. My questions are:
Do victims of misdemeanor and handgun violence have equal rights of those said to be criminals? If so, why in Norfolk has not even one of those victims I have pointed out been given the protection of a prosecutor when government gives a lawyer to the defendants? by CNB