Early retirement

As we were debating the question of criminal rehabilitation in one of my classes today, a colleague of mine made a comment about the near impossibility of former inmates finding work upon their release from prison. It's a contentious point and one best saved for a later commentary. But for now, it seems worth noting that one more former inmate has joined the ranks of the unemployed: Judith Miller.

Five months and three days after she went to jail for refusing to divulge a confidential source to a federal grand jury and one month and nine days after waltzing out of the prison courtyard and into a courthouse, Ms. Miller has “retired” from the New York Times, bringing a tumultuous end to a tumultuous episode.

Over the past month, the once-admired reporter has seemingly fell from grace – becoming the target of inner-office memorandums from the Gray Lady's top brass and editorial page columns across the country, including some in her own paper. She has been charged in the public eye – rightfully or wrongfully – with dishonesty, a lack of professionalism and even self-imposed martyrdom.

Once again, the New York Times – America's paper of record and a publication even I read regularly – is not just reporting the news, but making it too. And when this happens, no matter how unintentional it may be, one must wonder if the newspaper's edges don't start to yellow a touch quicker than they should.