The Yoder case

When Rodney Yoder was being held in the Chester Mental Health Center in Illinois, he was a regular caller to the news departments of any news organization that would accept his calls. He was, in some respects, a pest -- although a loquacious one whose verbal acuity could be both impressive and tiring.

In those days, as a mental patient trying to convince authorities that he was not insane, Yoder was on a mission. During those phone calls to newsrooms, he would argue non-stop -- barely pausing for a breath -- for hours, if anyone could listen that long. Eventually, everyone he called had to put an end to the conversations.

It was hard to evaluate Yoder during those calls. News folks aren't qualified to make judgments about issues so complicated as another human's sanity. But what he said usually made sense -- until a psychiatrist or prosecutor flatly said Yoder belonged in an institution.

Yoder didn't help his own cause. He engaged in a fight with another patient using a sock full of batteries as a weapon. He was charged with attempted murder, keeping him behind bars after finally winning his freedom on mental grounds. He was released on bail in January. Those criminal charges were dropped recently, ending Yoder's criminal battles for the first time since 1991. He is still engaged in a civil lawsuit that he filed against officials he believes are responsible for his long-term incarceration.

It is possible to speculate that Yoder wore down what he believed were his oppressors. The fact is the law ran its course. The latest charges were dropped because the alleged victim didn't want to press them.

For anyone who has kept track of Yoder and his battle against the power of legal authorities to keep him locked up for so long, there has to be a bit of grudging respect. The big question that lingers, however, is this: What if the legal authorities were right all along?