By Steve Reinbrecht
A letter writer asks
why the award-winning Reading Eagle newspaper has completely dropped reporting about a secret DUI court hearing for a lawyer who had contributed to a judge’s
election campaign.
The reason is that
the Eagle looks like a newspaper but really isn’t.
Real journalists
follow important stories to make sure powerful people, like judges, are
accountable.
But Berks is run by
people used to getting favors. See how that is working out, as the rest of the
region passes us by.
The letter is
eloquent:
Editor:
In a February Reading Eagle story that
raised the issue about a private court proceeding she held, Judge Eleni
Dimitriou Geishauser's staff said she would not comment on a pending case.
That
was nearly three months ago, so the case is no longer pending.
What gave Geishauer the right to authorize a secret,
back-door hearing for Reading attorney Zachary A. Morey? Anyone else with three
times the legal limit drunken driving charge would have had their hearing held
in public.
According to the Ballotpedia website, Geishauser ran for
judge on a judicial philosophy of unwavering ethics and strict respect for the
laws of our land.
It looks like this judge has two judicial systems in her
courtroom: one for the average citizen, and another for the well connected.
President Judge Paul Yatron admitted in February that this
case was improperly handled, so should I assume he filed a complaint to the
Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania?
Both of these judges have an ethical obligation to provide
the citizens who voted them into office an explanation.
Being silent shows defiance and an abuse of power.
Many readers posted comments at the time the story happened
because it deserves attention.
Michael A. Kouvaros
Spring Township
Spring Township
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