Specter: Senate panel to probe Phila. courts

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter said yesterday that a Senate subcommittee would conduct a preliminary inquiry into a report in The Inquirer that the Philadelphia courts are in crisis - plagued by low conviction rates, widespread witness fear, a massive number of fugitives, and the early dismissals of thousands of cases.

"It's a very serious situation," Specter said yesterday. "I decided I should show an immediate response."

The Democratic senator said he was alarmed by the newspaper's findings that the court system fails to punish violent crimes, dismisses thousands of cases without any decision on the merits, and has a growing pool of 47,000 fugitives.

"When the allegation is made that so many violent criminals are on the loose, it threatens the entire region," Specter said.

Great moments in Blue America.