Congressional (& Judicial) Malpractice

I've been following this story about the horrible, shameful, WRONGFUL death (by neglect and cruelty) of Jonathan Magbie, a 27-year-old quadriplegic who was sentenced to 10-days in jail for marijuana possession, mainly through the columns of Colbert I. King at the Washington Post. I get distraught, angry and heartbroken all over again when I read this Alternet update by Ryan Grim.

[Superior Court Judge Judith] Retchin, an investigation has since determined, had not told the jail that Magbie was a quadriplegic or that he needed a respirator to assist his breathing. Nevertheless, Retchin has not been sanctioned in any way. In fact, she was recently reappointed to the criminal docket. So far, no wrists have been slapped at the jail or at Greater Southeast Community Hospital, either, though all three parties have been thoroughly dragged across the media's coals, mostly by Washington Post op-ed columnist Colbert King.

The story carries this subtitle: The judge who sentenced Jonathan Magbie to jail isn't the only party complicit in his death: the U.S. Congress also played a part in this tragedy.