The April 5 editorial “No grounds to impeach Heiple” missed the mark. When we allow the highest leaders of our government to act as Justice Heiple has, we send a message that we will stand for the lowest standards of ethics and morality in public officials. We deny that these people should be role models in our society.
You say impeachment should be “reserved for cases in which an official is incapable of performing his job or has so discredited himself that his ability to serve is hopelessly impaired. This case does not meet such a standard.”
Justice Heiple has indeed discredited himself, in his decisions and his efforts to insulate himself from the consequences of his actions. This case does meet such a standard. Impeachment would send a message to the justice and to others that the public will not tolerate such behavior. If the public that Justice Heiple is supposed to serve has the impression that he is unable to serve, does that not have any bearing on the case?
