Randy Babbitt

Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 11:06 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Randy Babbitt's DUI charge was dismissed, leading the author to express happiness and criticize those who prematurely judged him.
The author laments the public tendency to assume guilt before proof, which contradicts legal principles and led to erroneous public opinion.
This premature judgment resulted in the loss of a good FAA Administrator, prompting a call for greater empathy and less quick judgment of others.

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I just read that Randy Babbitt’s DUI charge was dismissed. I’m happy for him. Iwonder howall of the squawkers out there who indicted him before he was proven guilty, feel about eating their words. Too often we assume someone is guilty before it is proven and this goes against everything our legal system stands for. Next time put yourself in the other person’s shoes before you are quick to judge. We lost a good FAA Administrator because of erroneous public opinion.

pwagstaff

Patty Wagstaff is a six time member of the U.S. Aerobatic team and a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic champion. She flies for the California Department of Forestry during the summer months. In Pattyâs monthly column, Let It Roll, she shares observations and philosophical meanderings in and beyond the air show arena as a flight instructor, life adventurer and experience-seeker.