We do not have any reason to dispute the District Attorney’s findings concerning the accident involving District Judge Sue Haggerty and a Mars student.

We have a huge issue with everyone involved with keeping Judge Haggerty’s name and involvement a secret for two months.

It is very good, and I’m sure a relief to the judge, to be formally cleared and to have it stated by District Attorney Richard Goldinger, that “there was no fault, and she was completely cooperative.”

That is as it should be, but it should never have taken two months for the name of an elected official involved in a serious accident to be released to the public. It is poor judgment and bad decisions that create the impression of favored treatment and improper favors.

Our own experience with Judge Haggerty and her court have been very fair and professional. We do not feel like she is at fault for the accident, and we don’t think she created the intentional secrecy behind the investigation of it.

But as we practice within these walls, everyone should be treated the same. On the rare occasions when we have had employees charged with a crime, we have treated them the exact same as each and every other person in that position.

We have had politicians charged with crimes, some bigger than others, but we don’t withhold the information from the public no matter who they are, or what position they hold.

Hiding the facts or delaying the release of facts including the names of local dignitaries involved in automobile accidents leaves everyone involved questioning why special treatment was given.

There will be a ton of criticism over this poor judgment by whatever law enforcement was responsible.

The focus should have been on the health and well-being of a young student but is now about integrity among those who felt empowered to treat the case differently. That is unacceptable.

— RV