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Saturday, May 27, 2017

Analysis: Basile trial and the broader picture

Analysis: Basile trial and the broader picture
On Thursday, I traveled to the Amity Town Court in the Village of Belmont to cover the criminal trial of former New York State DEC officer Kenneth Basile of Wellsville. This review isn’t so much about the colorful testimony of the defendant, it’s more about the building in which it was offered. The situation I refer to is epidemic, and yet few are concerned. We live in a society where we typically only become concerned when something affects us personally…then we care. This process  has resulted in the challenges and downfall of local courts.
As I entered the building that holds the Village of Belmont and Amity Town courts, I walked up a flight of stairs. No elevator and I immediately thought, “what if you couldn’t make the stairs?” A law enforcement official shared the same idea out loud. Before you get pissy, imagine – what if YOU couldn’t climb a flight of stairs.
As I entered the second floor, I immediately encountered the criminal defendant and his girlfriend. There was really no separation of space between the defendant, police, witnesses and others. I’m guessing it was the ‘honor system.’ I moved beyond the defendant closer to what I learned was the court room. That’s where I hung out with Brian Quinn of the Wellsville Daily Reporter. We shared a conversation, but during our ‘lulls’ we heard voices…the voices of the defendant and his girlfriend involved in an exchange…lawyers and police in another room and then muffled voices from the actual court room. Walls were paper thin…you heard voices…and not on purpose.
At this point, I’m guessing readers may be saying, who cares? The response is nobody…until you are the one facing a criminal (or even civil) trial. It’s not a big deal to most. It is a BIG freaking deal to a few (remember that foolish saying, innocent until proven guilty-which nobody cares about until it involves them).
I should also point out that this analysis isn’t meant to demean courts or judges or staff. It is however, a nudge to local governments to consider future plans.
There is common misconception that local courts just deal with guilty pieces of shit. Not true. Those courts must also accommodate the defendant and the victim…families of both…police…attorney’s….typically in incredibly small spaces. Local courts also handle civil cases. Do you really want the neighbor you just sued sitting three feet away from you as you wait for court space?
In the Belmont/Amity courtroom, it was a tight fit. It was also hot, despite the fan blowing. The defense attorney and the defendant shared, what appeared to be a folding table of six feet. Assistant District Attorney Mike Finn had a chair. Lawyer paperwork was scattered about. There were three folding chairs in the back, occupied by myself, Quinn and a third, well dressed man.
Admittedly, there are not a ton of trials in local courts. Again, you probably don’t care…unless it impacts you.
Around 2002, the Town of Wellsville put a plan before voters to update the court space shared by the village and town. There was a public meeting. Five people showed up. The town thinking was…increased security, increased space so a defendant could actually speak with an attorney in private and a better path for jail prisons to enter court, and more. Voters rejected the plan. The idea died.
Someday, something will happen in a local courtroom. It will cost a local government a fortune. Perhaps even then, nobody will care. If you truly are innocent until proven guilty, then shouldn’t everyone involved in the case be given some respect? Don’t you deserve a space to chat with a lawyer? If you are a crime victim, should you and your family really be forced to sit feet away from the accused?
All too often, we watch TV (i.e., Law and Order) and think what we see on TV is the way it is. It’s not.
I'm not suggesting, by any means, the local governments construct new, multi-million dollar complexes. Merely, that local planning commissions consider this as they plan for the future.
Like with most things in life, it probably doesn’t matter until it impacts you directly. Then, it matters and you say, why wasn't this fixed?