Editorials - 03/06/03

District attorney will be missed

Hipps's passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. Honesty and integrity were not simply traits he espoused at election time, they were the hallmarks of his distinguished career.

A Democrat and proud of it, Hipps loved politics. But when it came to doing his job for the people of the 30th Judicial District, he never played politics. As one lawyer told us this week, the only complaints ever heard about Hipps as district attorney were words to the effect that Hipps wouldn't grant favors to those who fancied they deserved them.

If he or his staff made a mistake, Hipps did not try to cover it up. Instead, he acknowledged it, took steps to correct the problem and moved on. One example that comes immediately to mind is the former practice of allowing a change of venue for those charged with drunk driving. When cases were transferred out of a defendant's home county, the person charged could avoid public embarrassment.

Though Hipps put a stop to such transfers, an assistant allowed a change of venue in a 1998 DWI case. In a memo to his assistant district attorneys, Hipps instructed all of them to read the policy and follow it.

Here in the newsroom, we especially appreciated Hipps's accessibility and candor. He was always open and willing to communicate with us, and we think that was an extension of how he interacted with most people.

Hipps treated everyone the same. He was just as attentive when talking to a farmer he met at a country store as he was when speaking with the governor or chief justice of North Carolina's Supreme Court.

As district attorney, Hipps took his responsibilities seriously, but he never took himself so seriously that he lost his famous sense of humor.

When we consulted him about a news story, we always enjoyed both his wit and his wisdom. Hipps was down-to-earth and easy to understand, and he never used "legalese" to explain the facts of a particular case. He offered us as much information as possible in such an easygoing manner that we felt like we were talking to a Main Street neighbor.

Hipps stood tall for the people of the Tar Heel State's westernmost counties, and he will be missed.

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