A long strange trip

It's been fun, but it's coming to an end. By the end of the month, I'll be closing up shop here at the Jamestown Lawyer. Thanks for all the feedback and commentary over the past however-long-it's-been, but time commitments don't let me follow through as I'd like. Rather than doing a bad job, I'd rather just haul in the sails and make room for new bloggers.

Arraigned, English.

As a brief follow up to a building codes-meets-First Amendment case: months later, the St. Lawrence County town court in question found a German/Penn. Dutch translator and the Amish men have been arraigned.

From Saturday's Watertown Daily Times:

Amish men are arraigned with help of translator
Saturday, October 13, 2007
MORRISTOWN — Code violation cases against eight Amish men took a small step Friday.
They were arraigned with the help of an Ogdensburg woman who translated German and its antiquated dialect, Pennsylvania Dutch, which the religious group uses. Town Judge James T. Phillips Jr. adjourned their cases until Jan. 11, giving Assistant St. Lawrence County Public Defender Steven G. Ballan time to prepare motions.

Judge Phillips appointed Mr. Ballan to represent the men.
They are accused of building and moving homes without permits. They do not deny the charges, but they say codes go against their religious beliefs.

64 Arrests

Presented more for quirkyness than actual social or legal commentary: 64 arrested at Ralph Wilson Stadium Monday night, twice the usual game amount according the authorities quoted in the Buffalo News.

Lawyers in Debt

An article from the Seattle paper is about college costs in general, but I find it very appropriate for sharing. As the costs of college increase annually, it becomes harder for students to ever shake the debt from their education. Salaries in public interest fields or even in private practice outside of major metrolpolitan areas don't allow timely repayment and escape from the debt.