State Drops Case Against Aric Butler

 

In case any readers are not aware of this, we don't get to pick and choose which laws we observe and which we don't. We've noticed over the years that the more rural the area, the less likely its citizens are to respect the laws that govern them.

Such was the case of chiropractor Aric Butler of Rogersville last year when he kept his gym open in defiance of state law requiring a temporary shutdown. Was it for monetary reasons? If it was, he didn't seem to have any problem paying Florence hotshot attorney James Irby to defend him in district court.

In fact, he had Irby demand a jury trial, rather than rely on a bench verdict. That action saved Butler's legal posterior; Lauderdale County announced this week that it had no desire to clutter up an inundated court docket with an actual trial for Butler and dropped all charges against him.

So who won? We're giving Butler one point for avoiding a guilty verdict and taking away two for saying he's above the law. It's not a nice look for anyone, especially someone who lays hands on others in the name of healing.