The website “Criminal Justice Degree Guide,” under ordinary circumstances, would not get the time of day from the blawgosphere.  It appears to be a site to find schools for those who hope to work in the “criminal justice” field some day. You plug in your zip code and schools pop out.  Not exactly what most of us are interested in.

But this Website was the toast of the blawgosphere yesterday, when it came out with its list of “The Top 100 Criminal Justice Blogs.”  The blawgosphere loves a list, and loves it even more if your blog is on it.

Simple Justice didn’t make the cut.  But then, neither did Volokh or CrimLaw.  I’m just going to have to work harder at being better. 

But many of me neighbors in the blawgosphere did make the list, so anything that lets more people in on the secret of the blawgosphere and sends more readers their way is good by me.   Grits was to make the cut, as was Anne at court-o-rama, though she felt a little weird about it later.  A quick plug for Anne, by the way.  I’ve never seen any blog slide into the middle of the blawgosphere as if it was always there, an integral, funny and useful member of the gang, like court-o-rama.  Overnight, she’s on everybody’s feed because she’s that good.  No need to give Grits a plug, as Scott has been a staple of the blawgosphere long before I got here, and remains a primary destination.

Houston criminal defense lawyer and force of nature Mark Bennett was a little suspect of this list.  He thinks “There’s more to this list than meets the eye.”  I think he meant less, but that’s just a matter of semantics.

There are many great blawgs on this “top 100,” and it certainly put this website on the map overnight.  While I was a little suspicious when I saw Tony Collelouri’s blog on the list, since he hasn’t posted since March of ’07, I don’t begrudge any of the fine blawgs receiving a little extra press.  And for those who noticed my absence, I thank you for your kind thoughts.  But enjoy the fame and glory.  You’ve all got great stuff and deserve to be on anybody’s “Top 100” list, mine included.