Supreme Court seeks Basingers help

After only nine short years, your name would inexorably alter from plain old Randall Basinger to Honorable Judge Randall Basinger. In fact this memorable milestone of the 20th Anniversary of your election as judge occurs in January 2007 as does the 20th Anniversary of the Death sentence imposed on Kenneth T Richey for the murder of 2 year old Cynthia Collins. You claimed that her death was caused from an act of arson which was never proved conclusively. In your greed for political power you cynically created a crime where none had existed. You used the tragic and unintentional death of a child to manufacture a case of murder by arson to guarantee success in the election for judge. The child's death was a secondary issue. The primary issue was political advancement.
After your election you offered Richey a plea bargain of 11 years reducing to 6 years with good behaviour which Richey refused on the grounds that he would not admit to killing a child. You re-instated your demand for the electric chair when confronted with this display of principle. How you, William Kluge and the three judge panel can sleep at night is a fearful thought. So many reputations are being protected at the expense of an innocent man's life. So many distortions and denials and so much covering up of incompetent and corrupt practice make Ohio look like a state without a soul.
Yet another milestone Judge Basinger awaits you. Your selection as one of twenty judges by the Ohio Supreme Court to the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Project must enthuse you immensely. But Judge Basinger, surely the experience you gained in the Richey fiasco cannot go unmentioned when the project to train judges in the use of Science and Technology in the court-room begins. Surely you will be able to point out the pitfalls of using unqualified experts to support convictions that the prosecution seeks, and ensure a level playing field for those, who in law ought to be regarded as innocent until proven guilty, beyond reasonable doubt. Perhaps the maxim of "justice for all" needs some adjustment from its current interpretation of " justice for all who can afford to pay for it". In a media-oriented world where perception is everything, how do you think you and your actions, particularly in the Richey case, are perceived?
What can you bring to the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Project that you failed to apply in the Richey case? In light of the circumstances Judge Basinger, your inclusion in the 20 judges selected by the Ohio Supreme Court with a remit of training other judges beggars belief and is an affront to justice.

by Pete McKenna

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