JUDICIAL SYSTEM BROKEN

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Taught aspiring lawyers the first week in Criminal Law 101. Every lawyer knows it. Every Judge. Some Judges are forgetting, however.

The shocking truth: More than a half million Americans are held in jail more than one year. The Constitutional right to a speedy trial forgotten.

The tragedy occurs in most instances where a defendant cannot afford bail. The defendant is locked up. To await trial. A trial that does not occur. The inability to make bail in effect a prison sentence in itself.

It is happening all over the U.S. Louisiana and Cook County, Illinois two examples.

Louisiana jails are overcrowded. No wonder. One thousand five hundred seven have been in jail 1-2 years awaiting trial. Four hundred forty eight, 2-3 years. One hundred forty one, 3-4 years. Eighty five, 4 years or more.

Something wrong here!

CBS News reported that nearly half of Cook County’s inmates should not be in jail. Based on an interview with the Sheriff. The Sheriff described the County Jail as a dumping ground for the poor, mentally ill, and gang members.

A national problem. Intrinsically wrong. Needs to be rectified. Not easy. It is going to take time and money. Plus, a national awareness and outcry.

What bugs me is that Judges know about these things. Yet do nothing.

I continue to feel under the weather. Remained in again yesterday. Must get out today. Not healthy. At least a walk.

I spent the afternoon writing this week’s KONK Life column. It publishes next Wednesday.

Interesting topic: Can An Independent Be Elected President In 2020? I think so. I spelled out the history of independents, reasons why not successful in modern times, how it could happen, those involved, etc.

Watched the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on TV in the evening.

Trump has avoided the dinner two years in a row. A coward. He is incapable of meeting what he perceives as the enemy. For whatever reason, he fears confronting them. Calling them names when alone is easy. Calling them names when they are in front of you more difficult.

First time I have seen the comedian Michelle Wolf perform. Tough! Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kellyanne Conway were obviously uncomfortable when she zeroed in on them. Proof the truth hurts. They should have smiled and laughed as the audience did.

There is something wrong with people who cannot laugh at themselves.

Trump in the meantime was in Washington Town, Michigan. At a political rally. Before his people. A safe encounter.

Whenever Trump speaks in such an environment, he bends the truth and rabble rouses. Not healthy for the country.

Continuing to lose weight. Thirty six pounds! So says the scale 5 days in a row. I am thrilled!

Crocodiles and alligators keep showing up in the Keys. More in the northern Keys. Rarely in the lower Keys. However that “rarely” has been occurring with more frequency in recent times.

I have been told by many we have to learn to live with them. They were here before us. We are the invaders, the intruders, who have taken their land.

Chris Guino is a crocodile expert. He is with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Crocodile Response Team. He is speaking Wednesday at 6 at the Key West Garden Club at 1100 Atlantic Boulevard. His topic: The Awesome American Crocodile.

Guino refers to crocodiles as the true rock stars of the animal kingdom.

Enjoy your Sunday!

TRUMPELSTILTSKIN

Trumpelstiltskin applies.

Think about it.

My President is a bully. A bully avoids confrontation. Confrontation in this instance is Trump’s appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He can hand it out. Fears getting it in return.

Go face to face. In a congenial setting. The situation cannot get worse. Something better might come from it.

Chart Room first last night.

Met two former upstate New York neighbors. Mark and Marge Rapport. Formerly of Lowville, New York.

Lowville is the end of the world. Roughly fifty miles north of Utica. Snow like you would not believe!

Mark and Marge spent 7 1/2 years residing in Lowville. Mark was the Administrator of the Lewis County General Hospital. Largest employer in the area. Mark today retired. Marge, also. From nursing.

Lowville is in Lewis County. One of the largest land counties in New York State. Correspondingly, one of the smallest population wise.

The Village of Lowville is the County seat. Its population 3.5 thousand. The Village is part of the Town of Lowville. The Town’s population 5 thousand. Includes the Villages’s 3.5 thousand.

Ain’t much to do nights in Lowville. Marital sex the frequent event. Marriages strong because of it.

Turin is a few miles south of Lowville. Turin also in Lewis County. A big ski area. Chris Rounds is a well known Key West figure. Presently owner of La Te Da and Fantasy Fest king. A good guy overall.

Chris formrly of Turin. Born and raised there.

I mentioned Chris to Mark and Marge. Though they do not know him, I suspect they will be looking him up.

Met three charming ladies. Becky, Michelle, and Donna. All in the financial field. Becky a retired CPA. Michelle an internal auditor for a hospital. Donna a senior financial analyst.

The ladies all originally from Iowa. Becky and Donna still reside there. Michelle now in New Orleans.

Spent some time chatting with Becky. Lovely lady. Charming personality. Would enjoy running into her again before she leaves Key West.

The three were on their way to a drag show at 801 later. Their first.

For me, it was off to La Te Da’s outside bar for dinner. Then a brief stop at Publix to pick up some groceries. What a bachelor does on a saturday night in Key West.

Key West people compatible. Tolerate most things. One happy family. For real.

Sometimes an outsider tests our tolerance.

A sad occurrence one in the morning on 2/23. 1200 block of Duval.

Two Key Westers going home on their bicycles. Some one on a scooter/moped came up behind them and then in front. Hit one of the bikes causing it to overturn.

The trouble maker was calling the bicyclists faggots and other vile names. Shouted at them: “You live in Trump City now!”

Sick bastard. He will be caught. Police arrived. Witnesses.

Another sick incident. Friday morning just before 6 am. Two young girls were waiting for their 6 am school bus pick up. Two men stopped in a pick up truck and offered them a ride. The girls refused. One of the mothers drove up with a bottle of water her daughter had forgotten. The men drove away.

Fortunately a rare occurrence in the lower Keys. My concern is the 6 am pick up time. The schools have to do better. These kids are getting up at 5 am to start their day. Wrong! Time for the school board to rework things.

Big day ahead. Probably will never leave the house.

Sloan at noon. Syracuse/Louisville on TV at 2. The Academy Awards tonight.

Not a bad day!

Enjoy your Sunday!