Love/Hate Mail
The sit-ins saved us all
I just wanted to let you know how touched I was by the article you wrote about the lunch counter sit-ins 50 years ago ("They Fought the Law," Feb. 4). I am a 38-year-old white male. I was not alive to see this happen, nor will I ever truly know what African-Americans have endured. It is so very painful to think about and realize that human beings were treated this way (by other humans). There is so much to be proud of by the people who remained so strong in the face of such hatred and bigotry. Thanks to their amazing bravery and unwavering courage, the future for all of us will be so much brighter than the past was for them. Thank you for the beautiful portrait you brought to life with your article.
Anthony C. Demonbreun —Nashville
Don't bogart those scare quotes
Three words to describe my reaction to the [medical marijuana] article in the Nashville Scene: "In this state?" ("Let's Roll," Jan. 28) Whether it's decriminalizing the current marijuana laws or legalizing "medical marijuana," forget about it.
Tennessee is up to its legislative earlobes attempting to pass more relevant and essential laws, such as allowing guns in bars and vigilantly keeping wine sales out of grocery stores. Now, that's important.
Why, just recently, the state legislature passed into law forbidding pet owners from selling puppies and kitties on the side of the road or in parking lots. The police can arrest and fine the pet owners and send the orphaned pets to the overburdened Humane Society, where if not adopted in two weeks, the pets will be "put down." As in killed.
This state wants "medical" marijuana? Fifty percent of Tennesseans still smoke cigarettes, which are rapidly becoming an outlaw commodity. If good ol' boys cannot smoke a Marlboro, anyone think they will bow their heads and give legal sanction to a "doobie" and a "joint?"
Paul D'Argent — Nashville
Tate article worthy of reply
Usually when I read articles in your publication, I summarily dismiss them as ill-advised and unworthy of reply, but Mr. Hargrove's piece on Danny Tate is so completely off base as to require a response ("Court-Ordered Hell," Jan 21). First, what would lead someone to take the word of one who is a self-confessed former drug addict and, without further corroboration, so vehemently attack the name and reputation of two very fine Nashville lawyers. Did anyone inquire into why Mr. Tate has had so many different attorneys to represent him in this case?
Nowhere in his piece does Mr. Hargrove inform your readers that a judge is prevented by the judicial code of ethics from commenting upon a case currently before the judge. Such conduct would impugn the administration of justice. Any journalist should have had a sufficient sense of fairness to have so advised their readers, who most likely would not know this. Instead, you left the clear impression that Judge Kennedy chose not to reply to your inquiries, rather than that he could not, and more importantly, should not. I am advised that for the protection of the litigants, the court file was placed under seal and the attorneys also forbidden to comment publicly on the facts of the case. Mr. Tate's attorney, however, seems unable to win his case by evidence at trial, and by skewed and inaccurate commentary, hopes to win it in the "court" of public opinion. Thankfully, cases are not tried that way here.
I have known Randy Kennedy for 37 years. We were classmates and sometimes study partners in law school. I have watched his career grow in public service to this community as a councilman and judge. He is anything but "errant," or quick to decide a matter. He is one of the most patient jurists, slow to anger, careful in his deliberations and usually tempering his judicial demeanor with humor and a desire to put the public at ease and explain the proceedings in his court so that those not trained in the law will understand what is happening and what is expected of them. Mr. Tate, by his own admission, has thwarted the pronouncements of the court on his own terms and places himself on the other side of the law by his self-confessed repeated refusals to abide by the orders of the court. Concluding as this article does from no real evidence, and only Mr. Tate's assertions, that an injustice has been done, the publication of this piece undermines the administration of justice in this community, as the numerous heated e-mail responses will attest.
This publication should be ashamed of the damage its piece likely will have done to the public perception of the administration of justice and the practice of law in this community, and it owes its readers an explanation of the standards of judicial conduct.
As for Mr. Tate, I hope he gets the medical and psychological help he so obviously needs.
Paul R. White — Nashville
Corrections
In last week's article about the 1960 Nashville sit-ins ("They Fought the Law," Feb. 4), sit-in veteran Ernest Rip Patton participated in a re-creation as a protester, not a heckler. Also, Freedom Rider Allen Cason Jr. actually served his jail term in Mississippi. The Scene regrets the errors.
Comments (2)
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Hey there, we are a new shoegaze band from Northern, CA. I was wondering if you could perhaps help us out by giving us a feature and possibly a review for the blog. It would be very helpful and we would very much appreciate it. Thanks a million, hope to hear from you soon. -Nick. www.myspace.com/whirlband
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In the Estate of James H. (Jimmy) (bluegrass) the hearing today on Grant Smith's Motion for Fees, the judge not only gave him additional fees (he is now getting close to $100,000) BUT Judge Kennedy made him the attorney for the Estate and he gets to work closely with the Executor (appointed by the Court), Cliff Sobel. The family of Jimmy Martin has no say so.
In Grant Smith's motion for fees, he acknowledged that he had a meeting with George Duzane over disinheriting Ray Martin. However, he withdrew that in court and, of course, the judge allowed it. This is the same man that Judge Kennedy said was a witness in the beginning hearings and who lied on deposition, lied throughout the trial, acknowledged he never told Jimmy Martin (who had a 3rd grade education) that his money was in trust, who preyed on a dying, sick old man for 19 days before he died (Grant Smith was at the hospital every day with his cronies), and is now TEFLON GRANT. No one can touch him. How long does this have to go on? Don't the people of Nashville deserve more than one probate judge for a county thaqt has over a million people. This needs to be changed. Judge Kennedy is as crooked as his cronies, Cliff Sobel, Grant Smith, and George Duzane.
Someone needs to read the trial transcripts. Well-respected attorneys testified that these people were preying on Jimmy for his money. Now, the court that is supposed to be protecting people is doing the same thing. Did you read the Nashville Scene? This is not only happening to the Martin family, it is happening to other people as well. What has to be done to get this Court on the right track? Is everyone in Nashville afraid of Judge Kennedy and his cronies? Do we need to get National attention? It is disgusting what is happening in your court system!
Barbara Stephens
(954) 445-6371
