Most Americans have faith in a court system that separates fact from fiction and substance from appearance. Justice can be slow sometimes, but we like to think the courts are thorough.

Here in Butler County, we trust the court will sift the truth out of Commissioner Dale Pinkerton’s defamation lawsuit filed against fellow Commissioner Jim Eckstein.

Pinkerton and co-plaintiffs, county human resources director Lori Altman and her husband, state Trooper Scott Altman, allege Eckstein spread a rumor that Altman received a 20 percent pay raise in 2011 in exchange for Pinkerton being let off the hook for a drunken driving pullover that never occurred.

Pinkerton denies there was a DUI stop or a cover-up. Investigations by the state attorney general’s office and state police found no evidence either.

The case is moving slowly through the discovery phase, which means the attorneys are still gathering, sorting and sharing evidence. Eckstein is becoming agitated at the pace. During last week’s commissioners meeting he complained, “It’s gone nowhere.”

Eckstein should be getting agitated. He plans on being on the ballot for re-election in May, and a trial at or near the spring primary campaign could be a major distraction or embarrassment — or both.

Candidate Eckstein finds himself in a quandary. On the one hand, with a history of making conspiracy allegations against others in government, does Eckstein want to accuse the court system of intentionally stalling his trial? On the other hand, such allegations have made few friends for Eckstein, and court administrators seem absolutely correct in stating there is a full agenda for the court at least through the end of the year.

Eckstein says he won’t consider an out-of-court settlement. How could he? There would be too many political implications in a settlement.

Meanwhile, commissioners Pinkerton and Bill McCarrier have indicated they’re not seeking re-election; making the timing of Eckstein’s trial immaterial to any other incumbents, since there aren’t any other incumbents.

Maybe the commissioner who tosses around conspiracy allegations is actually in one; or, maybe the circumstances just make the possibility appear so; either way, trying to prove it — on top of an already complex and expensive lawsuit — would be a difficult and expensive proposition.