Settle issues outside of court

Sheridan County needs to return to a society that settles issues outside of court.

In the last three years, Sheridan County residents have taken government entities to court at least four times, all of which in part sided with the government entities.

Sheridan County School District 2 Superintendent Scott Stults told The Sheridan Press following this week’s Pollak v Wilson et. al. decision the school district is considering appealing the matter in Tenth Circuit, “which previously ruled in favor of the School District in this matter,” Stults said.

The vitriol circulating among our neighbors has been proven time and again through court decisions that court involvement is unnecessary.

In February 2022, a federal judge dismissed the wide-ranging vaccine mandate lawsuit that touched several around the state, including Sheridan County School District 2 trustees and superintendent and Sheridan Police Department.

Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Darci Phillips issued a summary judgment Sept. 22, 2023 in Calentine et al. v. Sheridan County School District No. 2 et al., ruling against the plaintiffs.

Jude W. Thomas Sullins issued a ruling March 11 against plaintiffs in a lawsuit initiated by the Sheridan County Republican Party against the Board of Sheridan County Commissioners.

These few examples are just some of the public examples of how money was thrown at the courts to settle something that didn’t need to be brought to that level in the first place.

Likewise, there are cases that sided with the plaintiff — including The Sheridan Press, who won against SCSD2 in 2015 requiring the district make public information illegally discussed behind closed doors; and this week’s case where the U.S. District Court of Wyoming ruled the interpretation of an SCSD2 policy to exclude all speakers who mention individual employees to be unreasonable and unconstitutional. Both wins in these cases uphold the First Amendment’s right to free speech and freedom of the press, both of which could have also been settled outside of court.

These actions of individuals and groups play into the bigger picture of divisiveness in political debate seen nationwide.

The public feels that the tone and nature of political debate has become less respectful and fact-based over the last several years, Pew Research Center stated.

Pew Research Center reported Sept. 19, 2023, an overwhelming 84% majority of adults say political debate has become less respectful over the last several years, while only 4% say it has become more respectful. About one-in-ten (12%) say it hasn’t changed.

Similarly, 78% say political debate has become less fact-based over the last several years, while only 5% say it has become more fact-based. Just 16% say it has not changed much.

The courts made a decision this week — that decision being the interpretation of the district’s public comment policy to exclude all speakers who mention individual employees is unreasonable and unconstitutional, but the policy stands as constitutional.

In his column this week, Publisher Bryce Jacobson highlights the need to fix the ick wherever you are. This is one area Sheridan County can start reintroducing civil discourse again — outside of the courts.

SCSD2 needs to adhere and adjust accordingly and not use taxpayer dollars to appeal something that doesn’t need to be settled through court.

Let’s stop letting courts decide things for us we can settle through a simple conversation.