According to the AP, John M. Walker, Jr., a federal appeals court judge living in Connecticut, mowed down a 17-year veteran of the New Haven police who was directing traffic. Walker is said to be "distraught" and has stepped down from his post as chief justice of the appellate circuit, assuming instead the position of senior judge.

The incident is under investigation, but only up to a point—

[Chief of Police] Ortiz said a long investigation will be required to determine what happened, but police did not feel it was necessary to test Walker for drugs or alcohol.

It is this kind of exemption from personal invasion that permits legislators and jurists to declare that such actions by the state are not burdensome. For them they truly aren't.

Tags: * judge federal judge appellate court court of appeals privilege traffic accident drug test alcohol test elitism