Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged
He’s not a judge yet, so we can’t bestow our coveted Judge of the Day award upon him. But he has secured the Democratic nomination for a judgeship, in Philadelphia — which means he has a decent shot of being elected.
Then again, whether Willie Singletary gets elected to the bench may depend upon how much the electorate appreciates irony. From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Willie Singletary won a Democratic nomination for Traffic Court last week despite being a scofflaw of major proportions.As of primary day, Singletary, 26, owed $11,427.50 for 55 violations, including reckless driving, driving without a license, careless driving, driving without registration, and driving without insurance.
In fact, a bench warrant had been issued for his arrest - a fact made public after the election by Bernard Strain, who lost in the Democratic primary for Traffic Court but who won a Republican nomination.
A little more discussion, after the jump.
Singletary did what any smart eight-year-old would do. He said it was all his brother’s fault:
[His lawyer] said roughly half of the violations were accumulated over several years by a brother of Singletary’s who was using a car owned by the Traffic Court candidate.
(Of course, that still leaves the other half.)
Luckily for Singletary, his daddy rode to the rescue:
Singletary’s father paid all of the fines on his son’s behalf and the warrant was lifted, according to Richard Hoy, the younger Singletary’s lawyer.
But if Singletary wins the election, he may still need some parental help — like daily rides to the courthouse. Because of his numerous traffic violations, his driver’s license has been suspended. Through 2011.
Traffic Court candidate in a jam [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Traffic Court Nominee Pays Fines [6abc.com]
(12) Comments
Comments
How are those OT 07 SCOTUS clerk profiles coming?
Maybe Lat has stopped doing them. I've heard some of the clerks found the profiles invasive and discomfiting.
You want a philly judge to honor? Read about the Honorable Judge Berry
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20070429_An_unreal_scheme_used_in_attempt_to_conceal_assets.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20070429_Judges_public_office__staff_used_for_personal_business.html
I find it funny that the election of traffic court judges is partisan. What's the point? What's the Fed Soc position on moving violations?
Every election in Pennsylvania is partisan; judges, register of wills, clerk of court, sheriff. It's stupid, but it's always been that way.
Dear 9:57:
Why partisan traffic court elections you ask?
What easier way is there for a Democratic judicial candidate to embarrass the rest of the party?
PS: I find it funny too.
"What's the Fed Soc position on moving violations?"
As a non-partisan organization, the Fed-Soc's position, if it has one, is irrelevant.
Silent cal--you forgot the best one. the election for coroner is partisan. i really hate those democrat coroners
In Philadelphia, I doubt that anyone considers this an "embarrassment."
10:48 - absolutely right. This is just how things are done there. Judgeships used to be bought with a $40k consulting fee paid to Cianfrani and Associates (the "firm" run by Buddy Cianfrani, the late state senator sent to federal prison on corruption charges with well known and advertised ties to organized crime). I don't know who collects the money these days but know it's still the same game.
Philly municipal court is an abomination. Judges (see, e.g. Jimmy DeLeon) regularly go out drinking with defense counsel who donate to their campaigns, and their ignorance of the law and rules of procedure in court is appalling.
After raid, N. Phila. bar draws a powerful crowd
Source: Craig R. McCoy INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Two of the bar's employees were just arrested on charges of dealing marijuana inside the tavern. Two patrons were busted that same night after allegedly selling cocaine to undercover officers.
Police have responded to nine shootings in or near the bar in the last 2 1/2 years. They call it a "focal point" of gun violence in its North Philadelphia neighborhood. So you'd think that politicians and judges would have nothing to do with the Eagle
Published on 2006-06-18, Page B01, Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Article 3 of 500; 1013 words
BEER & BULLETS
Source: SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM & KITTY CAPARELLA simone
@phillynews.com 215-854-5324
FOR TWO weeks, there was so much bloodshed around the Eagle Bar, at Germantown and Erie Avenues, that narcotics officers raided the bar early Saturday morning to find out if drugs were the cause.
They were in for a surprise: Municipal Judge James DeLeon showed up and told police he was part-owner of the bar, and that his wife, Marilyn, managed it, according to a confidential police document. That's when things got complicated.
The city Department of Licenses and Inspections
Published on 2006-06-15, Page 05, Philadelphia Daily News (PA)
Wow. A corrupt scofflaw Philadelphia judge? What a shocker.
Philly has a long and proud (?) tradition of bad judges, awful judges, corrupt judges, judges on the dole, dumb judges, stupid judges, and fuckwit judges.
In fact, I'll bet you there are only two judges on the entire bench in that city -- which includes Municipal, Common Pleas, and Traffic -- who actually know what they're doing.