Good call

2/5/2013

The people’s business includes all three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Fortunately for the people’s right to know, an Ohio judge made the right call last week when he ruled that the nonjury trial of two Steubenville High School students charged with raping a 16-year-old West Virginia girl must be open to the public.

Under Ohio law, whether juvenile cases are open to the public is at the discretion of judges. Visiting Judge Thomas Lipps correctly decided that because the case has spawned rumors of cover-ups and favoritism, it is important for the public to see what transpires.

To ensure that justice is fairly administered, it is important that this trial gets conducted in the cold light of public scrutiny.