The boat crash involving several well-known politicians last month in Montana has drawn attention to the issue of whether a politician can receive a fair trial.

Senator Greg Barkus was drinking the night of August 27 when he drove a power boat into the rocks on the shoreline. The crash seriously injured Barkus, Representative Denny Rehberg and three passengers in the boat. 

Rescue teams had to rush to the accident site fearing for the lives of the members of the party. Specifically, two young staff members were injured in the accident. Dustin Frost suffered a head injury that put him in a coma. Both of the staff members recovered.

All men were prominent local politicians in Helena, Montana, and the crash would affect their careers and local politics. The crash has made it clear how small the political arena truly is; many are questioning whether it will ever be possible for a prominent politician to receive a fair, unbiased trial 

Many judges and district attorneys in the area had donated money or supported the campaigns of the politicians. Those individuals had to rescue themselves from any potential case that would result from the boating accident. 

The reach of the politicians extends beyond the Republican party and beyond the courtroom. When samples of Barkus's blood were sent out to a state crime lab. The lab was run by State Rep. Dave McAlphin, a Democrat, who had to send the blood out to a private lab because he did not want to involve politics in his lab in any way.

Other local politicians are taking advantage of the situation to make claims their opponents showed bad judgement and character flaws the night of the accident. In the wake of the accident, Democrat Dennis McDonald, announced he would run against Rehberg in 2010. He pointed to the particularly bad judgement Rehberg showed by involving the two young staff members in the incident, saying he had children around the same age.

Ultimately, the case has shown that each level of this DUI case may be steeped in politics. In such a small town, players at every level are on one team or the other. From the crime lab all the way to the judges, and certainly potential jury members in the middle, most people who touch this case will have a political angle they feel may taint their judgement.

This naturally prompts the question over whether a prominent politician can ever receive a fair trial.