Hacker News Reader

Comment by mark-r | Hacker News Reader

This is non news. What else were they going to do?

This is non-news in more ways than one. There was a link to the CBC's website with this same story. In it, they state:

" The notice says the case is being dismissed because of Swartz's death. Such filings are routine when a defendant dies before trial." - http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/01/14/us-reddit...

This isn't news and it is standard procedure. Just because Aaron Swartz's name is tied to it means that there shall be page views so why not sensationalize it?

It's standard, but I was struck that it appears to have been at the top of their to-do list this morning rather than some days from now. I'm guessing they want to head off any reporters talking to personnel, because the second some DoJ lackey in the process gets asked "how do you feel about this?" a can of worms will open right up.

What's the standard amount of time to delay before dropping charges?

You're overthinking it.

It's a pro forma activity that takes all of 30 seconds, and doing it now means they can close the case file sooner rather than later.

It's easy enough to check, has every other case against someone who died been dropped already? Does the DoJ have an API?

It's not easy to check: PACER does not provide that sort of functionality and the courts have not bothered to record death of defendant as a data field. You're welcome to attempt this project by hand; it will probably take you the rest of your natural life.

PACER was designed and implemented in the days when AOL and Compuserve were the Internet. It doesn't have an API.

> This is non news. What else were they going to do?

Dig him up, put his corpse on trial, cut off three of his fingers, re-bury him in a graveyard for foreigners, dig him back up, and dump his body in the Tiber?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadaver_Synod

TIL....

Wrong #1: It happened, they reported it. It's news! Wrong #2: What else were they going to do? Interesting question, but what does it have to do with your statement regarding newsworthiness?

I assume you are trolling hard and fast with your immature post?

Not really, just pointing out the obvious. I was surprised to find it on the front page of HN. Even more surprised to find responses to this comment.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com