Sad news in Denver this wekeend. Former Judge and City Attorney Larry Manzanares has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was facing criminal charges over a stolen laptop. As I wrote here,

I always hate to read news about people who, having accomplished much in their lives, see their reputations in tatters and find themselves facing jail over an alleged silly act that by all accounts is out of character for them. ....I wish Mr. Manzanares good luck. The D.A.'s office sure threw the book at him.

As his lawyer Gary Lozow said,

"There is no adult who has not exercised bad judgment or made a mistake in their lifetime.

His family released this statement:

"Those who knew him well will remember him as a highly respected lawyer, judge, law professor, mentor for minority youth, supporter of Hispanic organizations, board member of many women's public interest groups, author, and significant contributor to various facets of his community through his lengthy dedication to public service....The Manzanares family extends its gratitude to the multitude of people who supported Larry despite unfair and one-sided attempts to publicly try him in the press by attacking his character."

We are all greater than the sum of our misdeeds. I hope that Larry Manzanares will be remembered for the good he accomplished during his lifetime, not for the solitary, comparatively insignificant act of allegedly taking a computer that did not belong to him. R.I.P. Judge Manzanares. [cross-posted at TalkLeft.com]