These past several weeks have been busy.  I was honored to be asked by the Republican County Chairman to serve as parlimentarian for our Party’s reorganization meeting. For the first time since 1960, the 300 person committee was considering significant rule changes as to how our local party functions.  Big change was in the wind which had the potential to create a chaotic meeting.  Instead, it was government at its best.  Yes, there was lively discussion, but it was orderly and respectful. 

I was again impressed when a week later I was again honored to serve as parlimentarian for the Party meeting called to replace State Representative Bev Mackereth, who was on the ballot, but retired to accept a position in County government.  The meeting was preceded by a blistering newspaper editorial as to the selection process, which by the way, was mandated by the Rules of the Party.  The Committee people who I saw, took the duty thrust upon them, and performed it seriously and with great dignity. Again, government at its best.  Hats off to the Republican Committee!

Today I attended arraignments.  For those of you who may not be aware, this is when a defendant is to be afforded an opportunity to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.  Nearly everybody enters a plea of not guilty because the DA’s office is not in a position to discuss the merits of the case.  They simply have not looked at the file.  But that’s another issue to cover in another blog.  What stunned me was that there sat 10 Assistant DA’s, taking biographical information (birth date, height, weight etc.) from defendants.  First, that information is already in the possession of the Commonwealth, having been taken at the time of booking. Second, for an office that keeps complaining about a lack of attorney manpower, this is a terrible waste of Assistant DA time and could be done by non-lawyer staff. That way, only one Assistant DA would be needed to sign the form.  Again, I spoke up–but to deaf ears.