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How Long We Wait
How long we wait, with minds as quiet as time,
Like sentries on a tower.
How long we watch,
by night,
like the astronomers.
Heaven, when will we hear you sing,
Arising from our grassy hills,
And say: “The dark is done,
and Day Laughs like a Bridegroom in His tent,
the lovely sun,
His tent the sun,
His tent the smiling sky!”?
How long we wait with minds as dim as ponds
While stars swim slowly homeward in the water of our
west!
Heaven, when will we hear you sing?
Thomas Merton. Collected Poems. New York : New
Directions Press, 1977: 89-90.
http://www.participate.net/
By Diane Nichols
News Chief staff
Being a Marine and fighting in Vietnam for his country was
nothing compared to Allan Heuton's current battle.
The Lakeland resident and Winter Haven property owner is now trying to
show others about the corruption he says is going on in the judicial
system.
"Everything I fought for in Vietnam was not true," Heuton said. "In my own
country, I have no rights. We don't see the corruption going on in our
government until it slaps us right in the face."
Heuton is the primary director of the Polk County branch of Florida
Jail4Judges. He wants to be the first point of contact to help people who
are seeking "true reform" of the judicial system in Polk County.
Heuton was embroiled in a domestic case that cost him several thousands of
dollars in legal fees. He was charged with an offense, but the case
ultimately was dismissed, he said.
"It is our goal to seek out those members of the judiciary who are
committing crimes against our neighbors and family members and bring them
to justice," Heuton said. "This can only be accomplished by changing laws
that allow those corrupt judicial members to dishonor and malign the
intent of the law and Constitution for the United States of America. The
Florida Legislature has recently passed a new requirement that new
initiatives seeking to be placed on the next election ballot need to
collect 611,000 signatures from registered voters. Last year, it was
roughly only half of that. Lately, I have collected more than 100 signed
petitions at the Polk County Courthouse, but we need more."
According to Heuton, most people think their only resource when they are
in legal trouble is to hire an attorney. Part of the mission of
Jail4Judges is to show residents that many of the attorneys in the system
don't abide by the laws they should be held accountable to and that people
need to be more aware and informed. Heuton also wants to provide an
organization people can turn to if they have experienced corruption in the
judicial system and refuse to remain powerless.
Heuton is backing a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution called
the Florida Judicial Accountability Initiative Law (JAIL). The JAIL
initiative is a movement that first emerged in California on the heels of
judicial scandals that saw many judges and lawyers indicted for corrupt
practices.
The JAIL proposal would create special grand juries to investigate
complaints against judges. These grand juries would have the power to
discipline judges by levying fines, removing them from the bench and,
where appropriate, subjecting them to criminal proceedings before special
trial juries.
Under current law, Heuton said, the judiciary is entirely self-regulated,
and this has led, in many instances, to intolerable abuses of judicial
discretion. These have involved conflict of interest, denial of due
process, withholding of evidence and other violations of individuals'
constitutional rights, including arbitrary and unjustified fines,
sanctions, seizure of property and detention, he said.
"I saw other Marines die when we were at war," Heuton said. "I stood right
there while they took their last breath and were put into body bags. They
gave their lives so that we could live in a country that upheld our rights
as citizens. I'm going to fight this battle right here on our soil until
changes are made."
United under the banner of Jail4Judges is a broad coalition of people,
from all backgrounds, professions and political persuasions, who are
dedicated to the mission of reforming the judiciary. By means of petition,
voters in Florida can compel the state Legislature to place the JAIL
proposal on the ballot for voter approval.
"We'll be having a protest outside the Polk County Courthouse on March
19," Heuton said. "There will be hundreds at that gathering standing up
for their rights and calling attention to the corruption in our system. My
own daughters and many college students will be attending because they
want a different system for their future. It is the first step in letting
our government know that we do have power and we are going to use it to
see that the corruption stops."
Those with questions, those who want to become involved and those with
evidence of judicial abuse or corruption may contact Heuton at
863-651-9297 or go on the Web to wwwjail4judges.org.
diane.nichols@newschief.com
www.jail4judges.org
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