Justice feels slow at times, especially when an entire community is hungry for it. But our court system, both locally and on the state and federal levels, is purposefully deliberate, even with routine matters.

When the alleged crime is capital murder and the death penalty is a possibility, it crawls at a snail’s pace. And it should. Not because victims and their families don’t deserve the speedy results they desire, but because they deserve a court that administers justice correctly. When it comes to the death penalty, accuracy matters more than speed.

Two local cases with the potential for the death penalty are proceeding slowly. The man accused of shooting two Brookhaven police officers in September of 2018 was just now indicted by a grand jury. The other case, for a man accused of murdering eight people in 2017, is moving slowly as well.

But that is by design. Moving too quickly in these matters increases the possibility of mistakes, which in turn increases the likelihood of an appeal.

We understand the community’s desire to see the guilty punished for their crimes. We do as well. But we also understand the court’s position of balancing that desire with providing a trial that is fair to all parties.

We encourage the community to be patient as these cases make their way through the court system.

Winter blast is here

You don’t need us to tell you it is cold outside. The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a freeze warning for the area until 10 a.m. today.

Several hours of sub-freezing temperatures are expected through this morning. Temperatures will be in the middle to upper 20s, with wind chills as low as 15 to 20 degrees.

Freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Strong, gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result, according to NWS.

Thankfully, it warms up later in the week.

Anytime cold air like this blows through, it’s a good idea to check on your friends and neighbors — especially the elderly. And  don’t forget your pets. Make sure they have a warm place to stay.