I have always believed that good government protects its citizens from their own errors, omissions and weaknesses ... and from the bad actors who dwell among us.

There have been instances when Alabama’s government could be called “good” but those instances have been rare. This “not so complimentary” trend continues today in all three of the state’s departments of government: judicial, legislative and executive.

It seems that those who occupy the higher echelons of government in our state and many outside of government seem to attain great pleasure in various forms of demagoguery of just about any sort that would pander to those of less-than-average intellect.

Take immigration as an example. Not even the most conservative Supreme Court in the recent history of the United States would buy off on the appeal of Alabama’s immigration law, refusing to consider it without even hearing arguments. AG Luther Strange filed the appeal after losing in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which struck most of the controversial provisions of the state law.

Even though Mr. Strange vows to move forward on some other sections of the law which could require litigation, the truth is that it’s over and any further litigation will merely be a useless effort to allow him to pay his outside lawyer cronies more of our hard-earned dollars. Same old, same old.

Justice Bolin’s turnabout

I suspect Associate Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin woke up after a few days back at the Jefferson County Courthouse and figured out being the county’s legal advisor and putting up with the mess that is the county’s government wasn’t worth it notwithstanding the drive to Montgomery every so often to meet with his law clerks and attend the monthly general conference.

Bolin has told the media he decided to decline a position as Jefferson County’s top legal adviser after discussing the position with his wife. Actually, he had never resigned his seat on the high court.

The Jefferson County Commission agreed to hire Bolin to replace Jeff Sewell as county attorney last month. Bolin told Al.com that several heartfelt conversations with his wife were a strong factor for his decision to decline the position and remain on the state Supreme Court.

He said his initial decision to accept the position was done quickly, before he and his wife really discussed it. He said his wife, Rosemary, has great instincts and has been a guide during his career. Most wives do have good instincts, Judge.

“Then Bolin woke up and realized it was all a bad dream, a terrible mistake or an acid flashback,” writes John Archibald of The Birmingham News. “He came to his senses and ditched the county.” Did he figure that because working for Jefferson County actually seems like more of an ordeal than commuting to Montgomery to work for Chief Justice Roy Moore?

Bolin is in his second term on the Supreme Court after raising and spending over a million dollars in his last campaign. He earns in excess of $180,000 in that position. Jefferson County had agreed to pay him $224,000. As a comparison, U. S. Supreme Court justices earn $213,900 annually. The U. S. Chief Justice is paid $223,500. Archibald writes that Bolin went as far as invoking the memory Bear Bryant when he announced his return to Jefferson County. He came, he said, because “momma called.”

What I suspect is that in Bolin’s case another “momma” played the trump card.

“This action on my part is in no way any reflection upon the Jefferson County Commission and its elected members,” Bolin said. “They have been nothing but honest and forthright with me, and again, I am honored to have received their consideration.”

He had been selected by a majority of the commission to replace Sewell, who retired involuntarily this month after a commission committee voted to terminate his employment.

The vote on the commission to hire Bolin was by a 3-2 margin. I suspect that also had something to do with the justice’s reticence to leap.

Bob Martin is editor and publisher of The Montgomery Independent. Email him at: bob@montgomery independent.com