Watchdog groups keep eye on Illinois State Police violations

What do citizens do when the man really does keep them down?

According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times, that's precisely what's happening in Illinois. Once again state officials are taking the law into their own hands and doing what they think is best. Over the past few years the Illinois State Police are ignoring orders from a sitting judge to expunge convictions because they "don't agree with the judge's interpretation of the law." According to the Sun Times report the police refused to expunge 281 records over the past eight years.

No one always agrees with a legal interpretation of the law - certainly the people of California disagreed with a court's ruling on homosexual marriage and in turn overturned that ruling at the ballot box. (Of course that political football will continue to be challenged)

The United States is a nation of laws. And it is important for the citizenry to follow the rule of law even if it's a law one may not agree with. Laws can be changed, but picking and choosing the laws we want to follow while ignoring others leads to a breakdown of society. Fortunately watchdog organizations like the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago are keeping an eye on the State Police and fighting for the people when the powers that be ignore the rule of law or judicial commands.

The legal assistance organization filed a lawsuit against the State Police and have succeeded in having 137 of those 281 cases expunged. However the State Police refuse to comply with the rest despite the contempt of court charges. The contempt-of-court petition was dropped on Friday when the state agreed to negotiate the remaining cases.

Hopefully the State Police will file future objections to expungements in a court of law rather than taking the law into their own hands. Until then it is important watchdog groups remain vigilant.