About 'Trying Matters'

Was "almost" on a jury one time but defense attorney gave me the "heave ho." Serving on juries is not only a citizen's "right" within our legal system, but also a serious responsibility; however, there are reasons veteran reporters are not often chosen by lawyers in criminal trials … maybe never.

The "Fall Jury Term" in local district courts begins Sept. 1 and many of us were notified in July our names had been drawn "to sit."

Those "Terms' are busy times with multiple civil and criminal cases on the docket. Most are settled before going to trial but many are not. My notice said I had ten days to respond, and my failure to do so "… could necessitate being personally served by the Sheriff." Not doing my long time "law beat" for over a year now has made me miss those chats with the Sheriff, other law officers, judges and courthouse employees. Upon getting my notice I briefly considered not responding with the hope that Sheriff Meehan himself might come to my house for a friendly visit. The notice did say "personally" but … I knew that wouldn't happen.

Seems like about 30 years ago a fellow who operated an isolated bar and cafe up the Middle Fork on Highway #2, developed a management policy whereby people stopped in to use his restrooms but didn't buy anything, had rifle shots fired over their heads as they left. The first well-publicized incident involved a bus load of high school athletes from the North Valley. That inhospitable activity developed momentum and after a year or so the man was charged with three serious misdemeanors. Two involved his threatening rifle practices and one was for pushing the snow berm left by State plows back out in the highway, creating a traffic hazard.

Soon found myself in a courtroom with other potential jurors. When it was my turn to be questioned, the defense attorney asked, "Mr. Ostrom, so you know the defendant?' Being under oath, my answer was truthful, "Slightly." Next question, "How long have you known him?" The equally truthful answer, "Since he started this shooting business."

Near as I remember, that attorney was not entirely graceful in exercising his "rights of rejection." The defendant WAS found guilty on all charges and given a maximum three years in the County Jail. As a reporter at the sentencing hearing, I wanted to tell his defense lawyer, "neener, neener, neener" … but didn't.

On another subject, last month in Khartoum, Sudan, thirteen women were arrested for wearing trousers in a caffe  and ten of them were forced to undergo a "public flogging." The story did not say if the women were flogged with their trousers on, nor did it reveal why three of them were not flogged. The ladies were caught in a random raid by 'religious police" who also enforce the alcohol ban and "often scolds young men and women mingling in public." Those things are not allowed in Sudan as well as Saudi Arabia, and other Middle East countries.

Reading that report caused me to recall "an incident" here in Flathead County, maybe early nineties, when a younger lady working in the courthouse wore a mini skirt. The Commissioners called a meeting and decided that kind of apparel was inappropriate and a distraction to customers. Perhaps they thought older guys might forget whether they were registering to vote, paying a fine, or getting a car license. For whatever reasons, a memorandum was sent to "all county employees' that a new policy was in effect. As I remember, "Dresses and skirts were to not show more than two inches above the knee when sitting."

They rescinded the memorandum after other female employees and customers began showing up in short skirts. It was the "fun event" which caused me to first refer on the radio to the Commissioners as "Curly, Moe and Larry."

Sometimes in America we tend to forget we are not all that far removed from what now seem ridiculous attitudes. Thankfully, we have made considerable progress from the days of "burning witches at the stake" and "The Scarlet Letter" on the forehead of the accused adulteresses. Can only hope things get better for so many mistreated women elsewhere in this world. I think they will.

G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national-award winning Hungry Horse News columnist.