Lindquist: Sanctions are not irrelevant

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist has said that the imposition of more than $32,000 in sanctions is irrelevant (TNT, 2-22). Richard Jolley, the private attorney representing the county, has stated that the sanctions will not cost the county anything.

This may be true if all money paid for the sanctionable work is refunded.

Lindquist has said that he did not know what the Nancy Grace show was like even though he has previously appeared on it. He refers to himself as the “Zen Lawyer,” but apparently is unfamiliar with the Zen principle of being present in the moment.

Lindquist’s comments may not affect the trial but that does not excuse them. Extrajudicial comments that may have a material effect upon a trial are prohibited by ethics rules.

William James said that wisdom is knowing what to overlook. The economic sanction was but a symptom of a lack of trust in the integrity in the prosecutor’s office.

Lindquist’s appearance on the Nancy Grace show and the deception of Jolley both demonstrate a belief that they are above the judicial rules of conduct. This conduct is contrary to the principle that we are a government of laws, not of men. This is a problem that is foolish to overlook.

(Cain, a Tacoma attorney, is one of three people who have filed a complaint against Lindquist accusing him of trying to improperly influence a judge.)

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 12:11 PM with the headline "Lindquist: Sanctions are not irrelevant."