As a person who someday would love to work in the Inland Northwest again, I hesitate to make these comments - but I have to say that Judge Gibler (who my parents know because he's from the Silvery Valley and I went to college with his boys) seems very anti-media and it disappoints me. Everything I've ever read about him or experience in the Spokesman-Review newsroom shows me that he is very afraid of the media. But it's more than just that. To me - it's shutting out the public. It has nothing to do with the journalists involved but everything to do with the readers. Gibler can't fit thousands of people in his courtrooms. That is the role the media serves - to inform people who can't be there. And it's their right to that information. Very disappointing - but not very surprising. Personally I wish more media outlets would embrace their connections with major news groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists to help make their case - no pun intended - in front of these closed-door judges. I understand that Gibler wants a fair trial for Joseph Duncan, but how can the PUBLIC guarantee fairness if they're not privy to any information? Should we just trust the judge? I'd like to think in a better world we could do that - but a major function of the press is that of the watchdog.
Question: Can we trust Judge Gibler to ensure that the Duncan trial process is fair?
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
hesitate to make these comments - but I have to say that Judge Gibler (who my parents know because he's from the Silvery Valley and I went to college with his boys) seems very anti-media and it disappoints me. Everything I've ever read about him or experience in the Spokesman-Review newsroom shows me that he is very afraid of the media. But it's more than just that. To me - it's shutting out the public. It has nothing to do with the journalists involved but everything to do with the readers. Gibler can't fit thousands of people in his courtrooms. That is the role the media serves - to inform people who can't be there. And it's their right to that information. Very disappointing - but not very surprising. Personally I wish more media outlets would embrace their connections with major news groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists to help make their case - no pun intended - in front of these closed-door judges. I understand that Gibler wants a fair trial for Joseph Duncan, but how can the PUBLIC guarantee fairness if they're not privy to any information? Should we just trust the judge? I'd like to think in a better world we could do that - but a major function of the press is that of the watchdog.
