Last May, a Des Moines Register reporter was covering a riot near Merle Hay Mall when she was arrested by a police officer for simple misdemeanor failure to disperse and interference with official acts. After a 2½-day trial this March, a Polk County jury took less than two hours to find her not guilty.
Before the trial, the Register published an editorial saying, “That the trial is happening at all is a violation of free press rights and a miscarriage of justice.” The Register was right about the miscarriage of justice, but wrong about the reason.
Everyone has to obey the law.