Court Budget Cuts in Vermont Threaten Constitutional Rights

by Brian Sullivan · 2009-01-08 04:00:00 UTC
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This article from Vermont is a quick follow-up from this past Monday's Monday map. Although it hasn't happened yet, that state's budget cuts could so affect the court system that criminal defendants' constitutional right to a speedy trial could be violated. Once the ACLU got wind of this they got pissed. There is really only one thing that adequately expresses the profound nature of the anger felt by ACLU attorneys when they observe constitutional rights violations:


Yes, they are that mad. If you are the state of Vermont, you don't want that guy coming after you.

I think the lawsuit proposed by Vermont's ACLU is a good idea if state cuts end up being as drastic as forecasted. The one concern I have is that this isn't the sort of problem that we can sue our way out of. Litigation will only go so far in stopping or changing massive economic and cultural trends. Brown v. Board is probably the best (and most depressing) example of this point. Hopefully the current economic catastrophe and the new administration will inspire a response that goes beyond the courthouse.

Brian Sullivan
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