One of the pillars of our democracy is the Fifth Amendment. It reads as follows:

“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

That was a core belief of our nation’s founders. My question is: Do people in our country still believe in the principle of due process outlined in our Constitution? It seems to me that many on the right oppose due process when the results conflict with their beliefs and goals. For instance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., has suggested eliminating federal courts because they have ruled against actions taken by President Trump. That unequivocally indicates that some Republicans oppose due process.

Due process is a fundamental right that must be upheld for everyone in our country, regardless of party affiliation or status. It has been the foundation of our justice system for almost 250 years. If we lose our constitutional right to due process, our democracy will crumble and fail.

Mike Grove
Belgrade Lakes