Scott Jensen: Day 469 And Still Counting

I know that former Wisconsin State Representative Scott Jensen is not on the radar anymore for most people in the state.  I am sure that is fine with him, along with a group of elected officials and political staff.  But I think Scott Jensen should be in the news as his story speaks volumes about justice in Wisconsin.  Or should I say the lack of justice in Wisconsin?

As of Friday June 22, 2007 it will be 469 days since a jury of his peers convicted Jensen on three felony charges, and one misdemeanor charge.  The former Republican Speaker of the Assembly was found guilty of using taxpayer paid staff to do political work on state time.  He still will not concede the fact that this activity is/was both illegal and unethical.  His role in the statehouse scandal not only effected those under the dome, but even more importantly also tarnished our political institutions. Jenson was not alone in abusing his responsibility that voters entrusted to him while serving under the dome.   But Jensen is the one that seems to delight in not knowing when to admit his wrongs and make a confession of guilt.  He acts as if the jury verdict was an error by those men and women who sat for weeks hearing the testimony, instead of an honest assessment of his actions while in the State Assembly.  Jensen acts as if he is truly above it all, and need not concern himself with the finding of guilt.

For those not keeping track of the news you might be surprised to know that Scott Jensen has yet to serve one day in prison, or to feel any negative consequence for his illegal actions.  Jensen was ordered to spend 15 months in jail after Judge Ebert said that the actions of the former lawmaker were “common thievery elevated to a higher plane”.  But Jensen is free today, and conducting his life as any other person might do without a guilty verdict from a jury.  I am most certain that if any member of his jury were to find themselves in the same legal bind that Jensen faces they would already be behind bars. 

Jensen was found guilty in March 2006.  In June 2006 Judge Ebert allowed the former legislator to stay out of jail pending an appeal.  It was not until September 2006 that lawyers for Jensen were able to file the papers for the appeal.  I strongly suggest that if Scott Jensen had been ordered to go to jail that appeal process would have started much sooner.  A night or two with Bubba as a cellmate can help make those types of legal decisions more quickly!  But why hurry the process when Jensen has ample funds to pay lawyers?  Why not play the legal system the same way he played the political one while in the statehouse?

My readers might imagine themselves having been convicted of three felonies and a misdemeanor.  Can any one of my readers truly think that they would be free to walk the streets as Scott Jensen now does?  We all know the answer.  There are two systems of justice.  One for the powerful and well connected with money to pay the lawyers.  The other system, for those of us who pay the taxes and play by the rules, is for the rest of us.  Let us be clear about one thing.  Justice delayed is justice denied. 

Finally I reject any notion that my daily tally at the top of my blog, where I list the number of days since Jensen was convicted, is placed there for political purposes.  If the tables where turned and former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala were in the same situation I would have his name up there too.  In the first place the process of governing should be one we can be proud of, not one that leads to the type of scandal that both Jensen and Chvala were involved in.  Second, I speak for many of my fellow citizens who are tired of the manipulation and mockery of the justice system that has taken place over the past 469 days.  And still counting…….

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