MORIARTY'S CONDUCT

Two thoughts come to mind in the wake of the historic impeachment of Secretary of State Judi Moriarty:

First, Moriarty was a duly elected statewide officeholder, and she sought every means available to make her own case of innocence. Ultimately, the Missouri Supreme Court's judges heard her arguments as well as the accusations about misconduct in office.

This is the system. Moriarty was roundly criticized throughout the state, including by members of her own political party, for waging her legal battle. She was advised by no less than the governor to step down when the going got rough.

By exhausting every possible remedy, Moriarty avoided the nagging doubts that might have stayed with her and with most Missourians had she chosen the easy way out of office. By allowing the Supreme Court to hear the evidence and make its decision, she symbolized the right of everyone to the full range of the legal process.

Second, the Supreme Court heard the evidence of Moriarty's handling, as the state's chief elections officer, of her own son's paperwork to become a candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives. Some supporters of Moriarty have argued that making it appear Tim Moriarty met the filing deadline wasn't enough to warrant removal from office.

Public confidence in elected officials is in a miserable state in most quarters. If every elected official's blemishes were presented to the Supreme Court, there might not be anyone left in office. But the state's highest court had a huge obligation when, for the first time in history, it was asked to consider such a situation. It decided that there were improprieties, and it unanimously concluded that removal from office was appropriate.

The Supreme Court's action symbolized the right of the people to expect the highest code of conduct from its elected officials.