Those who don't deal with the courts a lot probably don't realize that it can take months ... in some cases years ... for cases to go from an arrest to a sentencing. When I worked in Montgomery County, I covered a child molestation case that had been continued 10 times by the time I left the paper there.

I'm not saying I don't miss things; I surely do. I'm human and, as a wise man recently wrote to me, "even those million dollar Colts drop the ball once in a while." But I can say with some assuredness that most of the time, if we're not following up on a major court case that we wrote about when it started, it's probably because nothing is happening. Sure, there are hearings and continuances and orders for discovery in the middle, but those are really small parts of what happens.

Just know, readers, that I'm keeping my ear to the ground so that when things happen I can let you know. I am a huge believer in the people's right to know ... I've filed complaints with the public access counselor when I've been denied access to documents I knew I had the right to see. I am doing my level best to get a handle on the best way to cover things and get information out.

It's not always going to work, but I am committed to doing the very best job for you that I can.