A recent opinion piece in the Tampa Bay Times related the story of Hideki Tojo.[1] Tojo was the Prime Minister of Japan when Pearl Harbor was attacked. When he was captured on September 11, 1945, Tojo had attempted suicide by a self inflicted gunshot wound. He was kept alive because Sergeant John Archinal donated his blood. It was Archinal’s intention to keep Tojo alive so that he could face justice.
In the fullness of time, Tojo was tried for his crimes and executed. The point of the story was that an objective view of justice includes a fair trial. The author further made the point that certain senators would keep suspected terrorists in Guantanamo indefinitely.
In the context of civil disputes, every matter requires closure. In family law, to achieve finality, there are certain costs. There are financial costs. There are psychological and emotional costs as well. After a trial, or even after a prolonged mediation, it can feel like one has been drained – like one has given blood. It is at these times that it is important to remember the trial of Hideki Tojo.
by Patrick Gaffney
