This week I traveled to South Dakota to release an 18-page report on Attorney General Marty Jackley’s prosecution of Dr. Annette Bosworth. In less than two weeks, Bosworth goes on trial facing 12 felony counts carrying a maximum penalty of 24 years in prison and $48,000 in fines.
From my research, that’s the most severe penalty any American has ever faced on a petition-related charge. Conversely, the transgressions alleged against Dr. Bosworth are arguably the least sinister ever prosecuted.
She had made available, at her office, petitions to place her name on last year’s GOP primary ballot … for patients and visitors to sign. During that time, the doctor traveled on a medical mission of mercy to typhoon-devastated Philippines. While she was gone, 37 people — including her sister — signed those nominating petitions.
When Dr. Bosworth returned and the petition period came to a close, she signed as the circulator of those six petitions. But the circulator statement reads that she witnessed each signature being affixed.
So Attorney General Jackley charged her with six felony counts of filing a false document and another six for perjury.
While I empathize with Bosworth’s situation, my report was focused on the impact such an over-the-top prosecution has on the people of “the other Sunshine State” — the woman considering a run for public office or the fellow thinking about gathering signatures.
Our election system should be open and welcoming. Not frightening.
Petition rules must be enforced. But consistently, in a non-partisan and reasonable way — not by coming down in a draconian, disproportionate fashion.
And not singling out someone the AG just happens to have been at odds with personally and professionally for years.
“AG” ought not stand for “Atrocity Generator.”
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
9 replies on “Atrocious “Justice””
The AG is a REPUBLIKOOK. Who would have thought?
I live in SD and I find this issue ridiculous. In San Francisco, I watched voter fraud right in front of me and that deserved a felony. But this situation, no, maybe a misdemeanor at worst. To lose her medical license and get nailed to the wall is just not right at all. I really hope this gets resolved fairly for an upstanding citizen. I would say it was an honest mistake, not felonious in any way whatsoever.…
It’s also common sense to pay attention and be honest. According to Jackley, “Jackley said that it’s “well understood in state law” that the offenses Bosworth faces are punishable by probation and not jail time.”. Let’s not participate in unnecessary scaremongering. Let’s acknowledge what Jackley has said. Quote taken from this article (i suggest for the people involved in the case to confirm his statement): http://www.argusleader.com/story/jonathanellis/2015/05/05/bosworth-prosecution-overkill/26939187/
Another example of Gross Injustice by the State. This is why I say that the constant over reach, corruption, even brutality and certainly injustice are increasingly awakening people to the failure of the system. Difficult not to re-act emotionally toward this.
It’s to bad the 2 establishment parties are supporting Marty Jackley on this case. The Democrat Party is on the wrong side. I thought they are suppose to stick up for the little guy.
I agree Paul. Jackley is using his position as a tool to punish any he may not see I to eye with. In our case brought by Marty Jackley and Heather Plunkett, Plunkett actually altered evidence and repeatedly lied in court. Their attempt to falsely accuse both my wife and I of 30 felony counts of child abuse was nothing than more than political grandstanding. Three months later after many attempts to induce a plea bargain and our resolve of innocent, Mr Jackley and Mrs Plunkett were force to drop all charges.
It becomes painfully obvious that either the 30 charges against us had no merit and thus should never had been brought in the first place, or Marty Jackley and Heather Plunkett violated the law in so many areas that dropping the charges was the only chance at covering up all their lawlessness. Either way, the fact that both my wife and I were charged with 30 felony counts of child abuse each and then all charges dropped three months later should throw up a red flag as to the way Marty Jackley operates.
Petitioning requirements are, basically, one more effort at keeping people off the ballot.
I have, and have had for a long time, a much better idea, IF petitions are to be required at all: First, a reasonable number of signatures should be needed and, second, each and every one of them should be solicited by the candidate.
For example, someone wants to run for governor of, say, South Dakota. So he gets the proper form from the elections office, takes it downtown and has the, say, 100 registered voters sign if while he holds the clip-board.
Or maybe he has to take it to each county, where he gets maybe 10 signatures in each.
But the legal requirement of thousands or even tens of thousands of signatures is insane, as well as oppressive and insane. (Yes, I said it twice. On purpose.)
It is unlikely such vicious laws will be changed since the PIGs, the Persons In Government, like to keep down opposition, or even participation, despite their claims to the contrary.
But maybe if people, the citizens, the voters, the taxpayers, start fussing out loud, something might change.
“For no people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.” –Samuel Adams
If he had been writing about 2,000 years earlier, Sam Adams would have been in the Old Testament as a prophet. Thanks for the quote.