To the Editor:
The Arizona Supreme Court’s upcoming visit to Eastern Arizona College may appear, on the surface, as a noble gesture to bring the judicial process closer to the people of Graham County. The media coverage would have us believe this is an unblemished opportunity to “witness our judicial system in action.” But are we truly seeing the system “in action,” or merely a polished performance designed to cultivate a false sense of accessibility, transparency, and community spirit?
For those of us who have been on the other side of this system—who have faced its selective blindness to justice, its calculated indifference, and, in some cases, its outright corruption—the staging of such an event feels painfully ironic. I ask, what purpose does this event serve beyond preserving a veneer of legitimacy for a judicial machine that routinely fails to protect the rights of those it claims to represent? How many Graham County citizens will actually leave that theater with a deeper understanding of justice, and how many will simply absorb the spectacle and continue to accept the illusions of freedom and fairness?
One might argue that this visit is less about engaging with the people and more about managing appearances. It is convenient, after all, to hold a publicized court session in a controlled environment, where the justices can deliver their decisions and speeches with all the pomp of authority, without ever addressing the systemic issues that affect everyday citizens. The illusion of accessibility is a powerful tool; it pacifies the public with a fleeting glimpse of judicial rituals while shielding the system’s unyielding grip on those who dare to challenge it.
I urge the people of Graham County to look beyond the pomp and see the game at play. If this judicial system truly sought to connect with its people, it would examine the ways it has failed them, rather than putting on a theater performance to assure them it hasn’t. I challenge local readers to ask critical questions and demand real accountability, not merely accept the scripted spectacle of authority.
For those who have suffered at the hands of these institutions, this “public outreach” is a farce—a carefully staged play that glosses over the truths some of us know too well. We, the people, deserve a system that delivers actual justice, not one that simply shows us what justice is supposed to look like. Until then, this visit, and others like it, remain nothing more than polished veneers on a foundation crumbling under its own hypocrisy.
Sincerely,
Chad Allen – Formerly Thatcher
