We have followed the investigation into the death of JonBenet Ramsey since her murder on December 26, 1996. We've provided continuous legal analysis on the case for the cable tv news networks and maintained our own webpages on the case-- JonBenet Ramsey: The Media Unlynch Mob Page and Cases in the News. We have taken the position that the police rushed to judgment in the case and that there is no evidence the Ramseys were involved in JonBenet's death. And that the Boulder police botched the crime scene and were blinded by their belief the Ramseys were guilty, resulting in their failure to look at other possible suspects, which in turn has allowed the real killer to remain free among us, possibly to kill again.

The politics involved in the case have been enormous. It thus gives us great pleasure to report on a 93 page decision by a federal judge in Atlanta this week dismissing a defamation suit against the Ramseys, in which she ruled there was no evidence to suggest the Ramseys killed their daughter and abundant evidence JonBenet was killed by an intruder.

The Judge also sharply criticised the media campaign engaged in by the police and FBI to blame the Ramseys.

Finally, the Judge censured former Boulder Detective Steven Thomas, author of a book theorizing that Patsy Ramsey killed JonBenet and Darnay Hoffman who represented the plaintiff in the case before her. She also praised the efforts of retired homicide detective Lou Smit.

The investigation into the murder of JonBenet Ramsey may be the epitome of "The Politics of Crime." For this reason, we are writing three more detailed posts about the case tonight, immediately following this one.

Our congratulations to the Ramseys and their dedicated attorney, Atlanta libel expert Lin Wood. This has been a long time coming. No one has been as vilified in the court of public opinion as John and Patsy Ramsey. They lost a daughter to a cruel and brutal murderer. They did not deserve to be tried and convicted in the absence of charges and evidence by the media, police and the public.

As we so often say, trials should be conducted in courtrooms, not living rooms.