Saturday, May 10, 2008

Something to ponder.

I was at a friend's house the other night where I was given a copy of a court case. This case is apparently being circulated among certain circles in Jackson for the sole purpose of giving everyone a good laugh. The case is a divorce and the ruling of the court spells out details that are lurid to say the least. Names are named and actions are described in ways which leave little to the imagination. It's pretty clear to see why it is being passed around as most people love to see other people's dirty laundry aired in public. Sort of the high class version of people who go to Daytona hoping to see a big wreck in turn one as they cheer the mayhem while drinking their Bud lites.

Any regular reader of this blog knows I am a strong supporter of making government records available to the public. However, when it comes to divorce cases, especially where there are children involved, is the public good served by making the details available to the public? In this case, the parties had children. There were no issues of custody as the couple had no children together. However, times and technology have changed. When I mentioned the case to a close friend who knows how to be discreet, the first thing she said was, "Oh, that is so and so's parent." While everyone at Bravo and Char are having a great time emailing and faxing the case to their buddies and laughing about it over drinks, there are kids who will probably suffer from the titillation of the gossips. It doesn't take much for a 14 year old classmate to access a court document on the internet, read the details, then put it on his Myspace or Facebook bulletins or email it to everyone around the school.

Yes, the parents made serious mistakes and acted in ways that harmed their families. However, is there any real purpose served by making such cases available to the public? Are we really any better off for knowing such facts when there is no crime involved? Because of the internet, perhaps it is time we started examining how much information is available to the public in such cases. Do we really want kids being harmed at school or humiliated by a sick peer? How strong is the public's right to know what goes on in court proceedings in such a case?

Something to think about.

Posted by Kingfish at 8:32 PM

3 comments:

Tom Head said...

Celebrities and politicians routinely seal divorce court records, partly for the sake of the kids. There was a scandal regarding George Allen allegedly spitting on his wife, but nobody could find out whether there was any truth to it because he kept his divorce records sealed.

I remember looking up an appeals court ruling dealing with a landmark divorce case relevant to LGBT issues, and was shocked to learn that one of the parties to the divorce was someone I used to know as a teenager.

Anyway, yeah. There are ways to seal divorce records, and every couple going through a divorce should have options in this regard, especially if they have kids.

May 10, 2008 at 9:41 PM
gorjus said...

I don't know from the post whether this was a reported decision by the COA or Miss.Sup.Ct., but I've long though that many of those cases go on and on through a recitation of wholly unnecessary facts--many of which have nothing to do with the opinion. It's just bad writing that could ultimately harm a human being.

May 12, 2008 at 11:51 AM
gorjus said...

Ugh. I believe I read the case you infer above . . . and dear lord, it's like reading a British tab. I'm not sure why it couldn't have been done with heavy redactions or allusions.

May 13, 2008 at 10:43 AM

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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).

Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.

In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.