| Author | Message | ||
     Typeone |
Posted January 5, 2006 Email | Print AMA expresses outrage over reinstatement of Janklow's law license The American Motorcyclist Association has expressed its outrage over a decision by the South Dakota Supreme Court to reinstate the law license of former Congressman Bill Janklow, who was convicted of felony manslaughter in the traffic death of a motorcyclist in 2003. The state Supreme Court ordered on January 5 that Janklow get his law license back on February 15. Janklow, 66, a former four-term South Dakota governor before he was elected the state's sole congressman, lost his right to practice law when he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving, speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign in the death of motorcyclist Randy Scott, 55. Scott was killed in August 2003 when the car Janklow was driving ran a stop sign on a rural road in South Dakota at a speed estimated at about 70 mph, charging into the path of Scott's motorcycle. Janklow could have faced up to 11 years in prison for the multiple charges. But in the end, a South Dakota judge sentenced him to only 100 days. In addition, he paid fines and fees of $11,000, lost his law license, resigned from Congress, was put on probation and lost his driver's license for three years. In 2004, another court ruled that Janklow could escape financial liability for Scott's death under a congressional immunity statute. Janklow said that he was returning home from an event related to his duties as a congressman at the time of the crash. "Motorcyclists across the country are shocked, outraged and dismayed that a convicted felon would be allowed to get his law license back and practice law," said Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "This sends the message that there are few consequences for the death of a motorcyclist. "It's a sad day not only for the Scott family, but for all riders," Moreland said. Because it involved a federal lawmaker, the Janklow case drew national media attention. But the AMA has seen dozens of cases in other states in which car drivers get off with light fines, and often no jail time, even after facing felony charges for causing the deaths of others on the highway. In response to that dangerous trend, the AMA founded its Justice for All campaign, designed to increase penalties for those who injure or kill vulnerable road users. For more information on that program, go to www.AMADirectlink.com/justice. | ||
| Bomber |
very sad indeed -- good reason to avoid that area, although Sturgis DID do a good job of excusing the legal nonsense so as to not impact their revenue stream -- sadly, riders will forget this almost as rapidly as others -- | ||
| Daves |
 Wonder what the outcome would've been if the motorcyclist would've run the stop sign and killed Janklow but somehow survived the crash. Think he'd be out of jail yet? | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I felt mucho disklike for Janklow after this incident and the details around it came out. What a piece of work he is; the system is. The slob, Janklow, is also a singular person that can be faulted for the growth of the credit card industry. Scam, loan sharks, your-word-here, but check it out. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/view/ I'm still a registered conservative, retired military, nuke the whales, kind of guy,,,I just like Front Line :-) G2 | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Years ago I applied for law school here in Minnesota, and they third degreed you about misdemeanors, never mind murder and manslaughter- suffice to say Janklow would have trouble getting a job as a courthouse janitor here in Minnesota, and he'd never practice law again. South Dakota is different- Janklow built a political machine there that still survives and few public officials dare tell him "no". I fully expect Janklow to run again for congress and maybe even the senate, with his political machine working as hard as ever to keep the Indians from voting. | ||
| Gearhead998 |
I guess you can get away with murder as a politician. Who cares that he was returning from a function associated with hi duty. Daves made a good point, If the rider had ran the stop sign, it would be more ammo for the anti-motorcycle groups. I think I am going to be sick now. | ||
| Buellinmke |
The sad thing is that he would still be in prison if he was a democrat. I guess we are lucky to witness the decline of the United States of America as it falls under the influence of a singular political party and, ultimately, dictatorship and tyranny. These are sad times for the planet earth. | ||
| Sportsman |
The legal system works real well for the people employed by it. Congressmen, Judges, Lawyers, Cops, Court clerks, even legal secrataries, you are all guilty. Are you expecting a plumber to stop this lunacy. If a truck driver knows another driver is a hazard, he is expected to step up, turn in his buddy, and stop it. Why in Gods name do you not have the balls to sound an alarm. Yet somehow the public is supposed to respect law and the legal profession. | ||
| Aldaytona |
The problem is we have become a society without balls, big bark, no bite. If someone murdered a member of my family and was not punished I think I might have to take matters into my own hands, an eye for an eye. If you face the penalty for that you might as well get the judge as well. They can only kill you once. Might send a strong message to the politically corrupt. | ||
| Crusty |
The sad thing is that he would still be in prison if he was a democrat Ted Kennedy is still free isn't he? It doesn't matter what party they belong to. Members of the Privileged Class live by different rules. The legal system is there to keep the peasants in line. | ||
| Typeone |
A U.S. congressman from South Dakota with a long history of traffic offenses blows through a stop sign at over 70 mph, causing a crash that kills a motorcyclist. A jury takes just a couple of hours to convict the driver of second-degree manslaughter, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. The judge gives him just 100 days. Totally pathetic. More nonsense... The order said returning the license on Feb. 15 posed no public threat because Janklow's convictions were unrelated to the practice of law and did not involve fraud, deceit or dishonesty. Ex-Rep. Janklow to Get Law License Back and to remember back from '03... Friend of victim in Janklow crash cries on witness stand i too wonder how this scenario would play out if the person killed was someone other than a motorcyclist, such as Janklows daughter or wife (although i would never wish this on anyone). the awful act is the same, penalty would be totally different. ridiculous. i'm so freekin' sick of Rich, White, Politicians and their circles of 'friends'. what a slap in the face to the poor family. RIP Randy Scott | ||
| Ara |
How horrible this news must make Randy Scott's family and friends feel. I hope that they are able to find some comfort in the knowledge that Mr. Janklow will encounter justice in the end. | ||
| Court |
>>>>These are sad times for the planet earth. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. |
