County 'efficiency' plan has flaws

I have always thought we have a pretty good form of justice. You know, you get your day in court and all. It might not always be the most efficient system, but at least there is an attempt to be fair. There has to be a certain separation of powers in which the judge is at least an arm's length away from those who write and enforce the laws.

Well, times are changing here in Du Page County. Recently the county threw out the old, inefficient way of bringing disputes about property violations to court, in favor of one that allows them to prosecute more people at a lower cost to the county.

Instead of a judge, you will now have a hearing officer who is appointed by the county chairman who oversees the county's various departments. The hearings will be staffed by employees of the county who work for the very department that wrote up the violation to begin with. To me it appears that one body of government gets to write the regulations, send out people to enforce the regulations, then rule on disputes over the regulations. That's like having an arresting officer try your case himself.

Guess how many guilty verdicts will come out of that arrangement? This is one of those times you kind of wish government was like a car and you could throw it in reverse and back up to the old way of doing things. When it comes to justice, we shouldn't place cost savings and efficiency ahead of a fair trial by an impartial judge.

Dan Vandermolen

Elmhurst