The presumption of innocence is one of the great values that separates this country from most others. That is why we believe it's wrong to jump to conclusions and convict Newport-Mesa Unified Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard in these columns or anywhere else.
As journalists, we've also seen our fair share of bullet-proof prosecution cases result in swift exonerations. It happens all of the time. That's why they call it a "burden" of proof.
That said, we find it premature to declare Hubbard not guilty, and the charges against him trumped up, as one school board member did in a recent interview with the Daily Pilot. A good person stands behind their friends and colleagues, but there is a bigger issue here than either friendship or professional respect: the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.
