Stars should pay the piper

Halle Berry was charged with a misdemeanor after she ran a light, struck another car, injuring the driver. She fled the scene. Witnesses identified her, but police did not arrest Berry until she turned herself in nearly two weeks later.

After several failed court-ordered rehab stays, Robert Downey, Jr. was jailed for drug use and possession with intent to sell. He was released early so he could work on a movie. He was arrested again for possession and sent back to jail.

Christian Slater assaults a police officer and is ordered to perform community service, washing police cars. The wealthy parents of Jon Benet-Ramsey are not charged with the murder of their daughter despite overwhelming evidence against them.

At what point did we begin to excuse the human frailties of celebrities?

Lady Justice is blindfolded so she can not discriminate on the basis of what she sees. When we do not raise our voices for her to hear, whom do we blame when she does not speak up for us?

Mark Blackburn is photo editor of the Daily Forty-Niner.