Character and justice start with yourself …

In the year 2020 in the United States of America, there is a great deal of complaining about lack of character and demands for justice.

Here’s a lesson we need to learn: To have either, we must start with ourselves.

Here’s a great illustration of this point from a story reported on wsj.com in 2013:

A Michigan judge found himself in the news recently because of the violation of a courtroom rule — and what happened next. Judge Raymond Voet has long had a policy



forbidding the use of electronic devices in the courtroom. Anyone whose phone rings aloud has it confiscated and receives a fine. Over the years, attorneys, police officers, witnesses, and spectators have broken the rule and received the punishment.

During closing arguments at the trial, someone’s smartphone started talking.

“I can’t understand you. Say something like Mom,” the phone requested.

It was the judge’s new phone!

“I’m guessing I bumped it. It started talking really loud. That’s an excuse, but I don’t take those excuses from anyone else. I set the bar high, because cell phones are a distraction and there is very serious business going on,” he said. “The courtroom is a special place in the community, and it needs more respect than that.”

During the next break in the trial, Judge Voet held himself in contempt and paid the standard $25 fine he issues anyone who disturbs a trial.

“Judges are human,” Voet said. “They’re not above the rules. I broke the rule, and I have to live by it.”

Before we can expect high standards of character, we must demonstrate character; before we can demand justice from others, we must be just. How are you doing at being a just person of high character?

Scotty