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Steven I. Platt: Make Congress stick to the subject
As the executive and legislative branches of our federal government approach yet another “crisis” that they created by setting up a partial government shutdown of one of our most important departments — Homeland Security — our “leaders” are, as usual, spending too much time developing talking points and not enough time figuring out how to make our increasingly fragile representative de[...]
Steven I. Platt: Chance to rework justice system
As Gov.-elect Larry Hogan fills posts in his incoming administration, it would behoove him to pay attention not only to the qualifications, but also the management style of the men and women who seek appointive office at the highest levels in the new government.
Steven I. Platt: Should we scrap the grand jury?
As the Ferguson, Missouri, community along with the rest of the country reacts to the decision of the St. Louis County grand jury not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, the secrecy of its deliberations for months and the lack of accountability that has inevitably accompanied it should raise serious questions about the utility of the aging institution of the grand jury.
Steven I. Platt: Do we get answers we need from candidates?
As the general election for governor and virtually all of the state and local offices in our state except the Baltimore mayor and City Council approach, it is clearer than ever how the manner in which campaigns are conducted affects the initiation and implementation of public policy once the election is over.
Steven I. Platt: Media should scrutinize – and explain
In recent years, courts have been faced with an ever-rising tide of litigation. Many of the issues raised by a good portion of this litigation go to the very heart of our political, economic, social and cultural order.
Steven I. Platt: No disputing need for more options
The courthouse of the future will have multiple doors and many methods of dispute resolution available behind those doors.
Pursuit of Justice: Social sciences are behind the times
In my last column, I hope that I left readers to at least agree that Maryland’s criminal justice system needs an unprecedented and thorough review.
Steven I. Platt: Criminal justice system needs thorough examination
Almost a quarter of a century ago, in his State of the Judiciary Address to the 1990 session of the General Assembly, the then-chief judge of the Court of Appeals, the late Robert C. Murphy, said:
Steven I. Platt: Federal ‘rules’ hamper democratic governance
The month of April has at best been a month during which events have generated serious questions about our federal government’s ability to protect its citizens, as well as its ability to institutionally respect and respond to the will of the huge majority of the people officials were elected to represent.
Steven I. Platt: After comedy, serious business
The most recent presidential election took place about 90 days ago. Seems like it has been longer than that. The Maryland General Assembly began its 90-day session less than a month ago with “big issues” on its agenda. The backdrop for both events is the continuing sharp division of both our political class and the people who elect them, both nationally and in our “Free State.”
Steven I. Platt: What our leaders should resolve
As each new year approaches, all of us traditionally hope for a better time than the past year provided us. This year, that hope — for the first time in my 65-year-old memory — is tempered for many of us by recent events that limit our expectations in a way that makes them seem at best uncertain and at worst, not equal to or less than what they have been in the past.
Steven I. Platt: An exercise in reading political tea leaves
That is the question with which I ended my last column and it is perhaps the only question that any of us should ask throughout the process of selecting the next president or any elected official.
