"Thank you, dad." The incestuous nature of the beast.

A father and his daughter. This would be kind of sweet and heartwarming if it weren't for the incestuous nature of the Good Old Boys Club in the Judiciary. Especially when it happens in a small town, like the small town of Prescott, with its small town politics.

I found a photo from the Prescott Daily Courier Newspaper ("newsletter" as one local joked) of retired, but still politically active, Yavapai County Superior Court judge James Hancock swearing in his daughter, Cele Hancock, as judge. (She's married you know, but doesn't use her husband's name. Speaks volumes, spiritually speaking.)

[Out of curiosity, who's the guy sleeping in the chair in the middle background?]

Okay, okay, "incest" is too strong a word here. I'll admit I'm using it for shock value. (But, hey, Cele, you can't point a finger at me, can you? You're guilty of using the wrong words to win your point too. At least I'm admitting it.) Nepotism is the proper word here.

Now, the word "nepotism" includes "without merit" in its definition. As with Sandra Day O'Connor, who was only famous for being famous, poor Cele will never really know whether she was appointed a judge because she was really qualified or because she was in the right place at the right time. Namely, the daughter of the man who appointed Judge Brutinel.

Was Cele really the best of the best in Prescott? (No, not in my opinion. She's ethically challenged.) Or was she appointed a judge by Judge Brutinel as way of payback? Nepotism in the big judicial family in the small town of Prescott?

Well, you all will have a chance to vote on it in a few years. Let's see what happens then. You get the government (includes judges) you deserve.