Monday, August 27, 2007
When the Clueless Hold the Reigns of Power
Fellow citizens of Knox County, I bring to you the unfortunate truth - you are being ruled by those who are not the best and brightest that we as a county have to offer.
Yes, you knew they were morally bankrupt based on their actions over the past year. But I bet you at least thought that they might have a clue about the laws of the State of Tennessee, since, you know, they actually produce local law through their positions on the Knox County Commission.
Apparently, that isn't the case. Just read the latest from the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Lee Tramel doesn't think that the commission knowingly violated the Sunshine Law. Apparently, Commissioner Tramel believes that ignorance of the law is a defense to it. As someone who deals with criminal clients that believe the same thing, I have to say that judges don't tend to sympathize with the "gee, I didn't know" defense.
Lumpy Lambert wants to take the case "all the way to the Supreme Court so we know exactly what 'the Sunshine Law' means." Of course, the courts of Tennessee have already weighed in on the subject. Perhaps Commissioner Lambert should ask the Law Director to provide some case law to read on the side. Any 1L student over at the University of Tennessee College of Law could find it for him, if the Law Director is too busy cleaning up other county messes.
Finally, the quorum argument is quite imaginative. Unfortunately, it isn't supported by anything in the law, which tends to be troublesome in front of a judge.
It's a sad state of affairs. Things aren't that bad here in Knox County, but can you imagine just how good they could be if our government even approached competency?
Yes, you knew they were morally bankrupt based on their actions over the past year. But I bet you at least thought that they might have a clue about the laws of the State of Tennessee, since, you know, they actually produce local law through their positions on the Knox County Commission.
Apparently, that isn't the case. Just read the latest from the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Lee Tramel doesn't think that the commission knowingly violated the Sunshine Law. Apparently, Commissioner Tramel believes that ignorance of the law is a defense to it. As someone who deals with criminal clients that believe the same thing, I have to say that judges don't tend to sympathize with the "gee, I didn't know" defense.
Lumpy Lambert wants to take the case "all the way to the Supreme Court so we know exactly what 'the Sunshine Law' means." Of course, the courts of Tennessee have already weighed in on the subject. Perhaps Commissioner Lambert should ask the Law Director to provide some case law to read on the side. Any 1L student over at the University of Tennessee College of Law could find it for him, if the Law Director is too busy cleaning up other county messes.
Finally, the quorum argument is quite imaginative. Unfortunately, it isn't supported by anything in the law, which tends to be troublesome in front of a judge.
It's a sad state of affairs. Things aren't that bad here in Knox County, but can you imagine just how good they could be if our government even approached competency?
Labels: Knox County Politics
Permalink posted by Rob Huddleston @ 8:07 AM 
