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pursuit of justice

Feb 26, 2015

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[...]

Jan 15, 2015

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.

Nov 26, 2014

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.

Oct 30, 2014

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.

Sep 25, 2014

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.

Jul 31, 2014

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.

Aug 6, 2013

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.

Jul 18, 2013

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:

Apr 25, 2013

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.

Jan 31, 2013

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.”

Dec 27, 2012

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.

Oct 31, 2012

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.

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