Any way you look at it, Representative Bill Janklow’s story is a tragedy. For Randy Scott, the innocent victim of the Congressman’s recklessness, and his family, even justice fulfilled can’t replace a life or relieve the heartbreak. It is a tragedy that a proven dangerous driver was allowed behind the wheel of a car. And, it’s terribly sad that Rep. Janklow’s long career of valuable public service has ended with the destruction of another human being.

This is a story of unbelievable arrogance and unconscionable failure of law enforcement and the justice system. As Governor of South Dakota, Bill Janklow bragged about his reckless driving. In a four-year period, he received 12 speeding tickets and, over 10 years, had 8 accidents. Then, after his reelection as governor, he never received another ticket. One must ask whether it was because he had mended his appalling driving habits or because no state patrolman wanted to give the governor a ticket.

When he told the South Dakota legislature in 1999 that a jail sentence would make him a more prudent driver, why didn’t someone offer him that opportunity? Perhaps it would have saved Randy Scott’s life. And Rep. Janklow’s career. When he nearly caused another accident at the same intersection where he killed Randy Scott, it was because he failed to stop at a stop sign and was driving 86 miles per hour. But, the near-victim of that incident didn’t press charges because he was the governor. Why didn’t the officer who stopped him take him to court?

Finally, Rep. Janklow’s constituents delivered the justice he has long deserved. In the small town where he lived, his friends and neighbors found him guilty of manslaughter. They weren’t allowed to consider his frightening driving record, but they nailed him anyway. South Dakotans can thank these jurors for taking this menace off their highways.

But, a long overdue jail sentence will not bring Randy Scott back to life. It will not relieve his family’s anguish. And, it will not excuse the lack of justice in the case of a politician who was both popular and dangerous. In most states, a record of 12 speeding tickets in 4 years would cost a driver his or her license. South Dakota should have made sure Governor Janklow, prominent politician that he was, lost his.

Politicians deserve no special treatment from law enforcement officers and District Attorneys. Of course it is uncomfortable to ticket an important politician. A powerful person can make your life miserable, can threaten to take away your job, if you, as a state employee, hold him accountable for bad behavior. But none of that should put any politician above the law. Equal treatment under the law is what our justice system is supposed to enforce. It failed badly in South Dakota.

While Rep. Janklow pleaded guilty to causing Randy Scott’s death, he tried to excuse himself by claiming he was confused because he is diabetic and was suffering from low blood sugar. Why, then, was he behind the wheel of a car? Why didn’t he take responsibility for managing his diabetes that day? And, why didn’t an aide drive him if he were acting confused? Fortunately, the jurors didn’t buy that ludicrous defense and held him personally responsible for the tragedy he caused.

Finally, this is a sad episode for Rep. Janklow and the people of South Dakota. A politician in whom they had placed great trust for many years failed them. No doubt, he has served South Dakota well as a political leader, but he has been a disaster as a law-abiding driver. The biggest tragedy of all is that he wasn’t stopped before he killed somebody. He wasn’t just some swashbuckling politician who felt himself above the law. He was a daily threat to the safety of innocent people.

Perhaps, the tragedy of Randy Scott and Bill Janklow will remind us that justice must be fairly and timely applied, no matter how powerful someone may be. Perhaps, too, it will encourage us to demand accountability from politicians and the legal system before such a tragedy forces our hand.