Lat should hire Virgil to write an abovethelaw comment scanner. That should mitigate activities of first trolls.

Lat, enough with the lame cracks about presidential politics. We get it. You like Hillary. You hate Rudy.

Not everyone does. Especially those of us who don't want to get attacked by al Qaeda.

3:01--I think we can all rest assured that Lat does NOT like Hillary. At least for president.

Separate question: If I call my judge an a**hole, can I be locked up for contempt? Seems that the contempt power only runs to issues relevant to court proceedings, not to contempt for the judge in private/employment matters.

Lat- how about a post/thread/story about U.S.D.J. Henry Hudson of the E.D.V.A., who is the federal judge in the Michael Vick case?

Lat likes Rudy (who is the most socially liberal of the Republicans).

Even Giuliani supporters will admit that he's "cantankerous." In fact, it's part of his appeal - that he is a strong leader who doesn't take BS.

Rudy is "strong" as long as he has state power to back him up. In the war of all against all he'd be wiped out by a twelve year old from the inner city in the first five minutes (just like every other short, slow, ugly and fat blowhard). Why is it that people most in need of government are the most critical of it?

Strange, I thought I read him drooling over Hillary a few times

How exactly does this clerk not resign after the Judge had his wife arrested?

Lat likes Rudy, but he LOVES Hillary (and has "drooled over" her before).

No inconsistency in that. They're both socially liberal, celebrity politicians from New York.

3:41- Hillary is from New York?

She's about as "from" New York as Willie T. Slash-and-Burn was "from" Atlanta.

3:16 - Maybe not, but he sure dishes it out.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0212072giuliani1.html

How is a judge abusing her power and having random people thrown in jail "awesome"??

Lat, you are a complete moron.

I would have run in with a habeas petition for the wife locked up for the weekend, pro bono. You don't lock someone up for expressing an opinion outside of an open court proceeding.

As Marian Shelton's "wealthy" husband and the soul of "chivalry" I've read with
obvious interest the blog entries, but as they risk becoming venomous and racist I thought you (who I assume are twenty somethings - God bless you) might want the facts:
1. conditions in Bronx Family Court are appalling and have been for years (see Judge Richard Ross' book "A Day in Part 15"). It is not just that Marian's courtroom is a made over file room, or that the judges have to use a garbage carrying freight elevator but that the court-as the Times noted- is "dysfunctional." Principally, that means a lack of 18b lawyers. It is a poor person's court, and reflects accurately the lack of resources our society devotes to poor people.
2. Marian was trained as a big firm associate. She handles hundreds of cases more each year and works longer hours than her colleagues. The woman who was held in detention (for ten minutes) called her an "asshole" WHILE COURT WAS IN SESSION at 7 on a Friday evening.
3. Marian is not of the system; she makes waves - with ACS, Legal Aid, and the Court officers union. Why? because they protect their institutional status at the cost of looking after kids and battered women.
4. Several years ago Marian was largely responsible for closing down a foster care agency chuck full of celebrities, but neglecting kids.
5. Her adoption ceremonies are considered a model by other judges. A legal procedure becomes a ceremony.
6. If you think she's some dummy with connections foisted on the courts you should read her articles in the Law Journal on English divorce law and her opinions.
7. This is from a letter she received the other day from a woman who had appeared before her;
"You deserve accolades and not condemnation for the way that you conduct yourself and run your courtroom. You are equally fair and stern.[I wish] there were more judges on the bench who made it clear that the matters in Family Court are to be taken seriously. Because of you I am no longer in an abusive relationship. I don't know if I would be here today, if not for you.'
8. The saddest thing to me - as someone who practiced law for 43 years - is that many of you accept allegations as fact. It is for that reason and to expose the lack of due process by the Commission on Judicial Conduct that Marian has chosen - the first judge in years to do so - to have open hearings on the Commission's charges. Even if the Hearing Referee picked by the Commission is someone who worked there for six years, wrote a hearing manual for them, and, in retirement, has done nothing in legal work except to handle Commission assignments.
Lastly, Marian is a knock-out - and not the first person to be victimized by an official photograph.
Most importantly - whatever you think about my wife come to the hearings. We look forward to seeing you there.
Saul Cohen

Mr. Cohen:
I have appeared in front of your wife and trust me, the things being said about her are not allegations--they are fact. Some of the quotes by your wife that have been printed in the papers are by far on the mild end of comments that she has made about people in her courtroom. I, personally, have been on the receiving end of her tongue lashings, and I can say with all honesty and sincerity, that it was neither appropriate or necessary. She seems to take pleasure in belittling and demeaning people, for no reason other than she can. I will say that I think she is the smartest judge on the bench and conducts her courtroom with a formalness that the other judges and referees should adopt. However, the way she treats the lawyers that appear before her is at times shameful and disgraceful. I invite YOU to come to your wife's hearings.

Dear Honorable Shelton,

I was in your courtroom on July 12,06 for domestic violence. The case went to DVR at bronx criminal court. After almost a year of back and forth to court, I finally got my full custody order of my son. I dropped the charges because, if the respondent, Luis Vazquez, lost the trial then it could have put me in more danger. As a result of not showing up, on our last court date 5/23/07, the respondent was given the ok to access medical and school records of our son. I cant understand how this could have happened, because Safe Horizon helped me get an emergency transfer and I am a victim of domestic violence and the courts know, that I am a victim of domestic violence. Now my son is in school and I fear he might find out where we are. Your honor, I really need your help. I need to modify that order . He cannot know where we are. This man is dangerous and a threat to my life. He is also in violation of the child support order. The docket number to this case is V-00699-06. Ms. Martinez of the Safe Horizon emergency transfer program at NYCHA, was assigned to my case. Her number is 212-306-8835. Your honor, please help me. I am trying to start my life all over again. By the way, I read the article in the Daily News, and I support you. We need more people like you. You are the voice of the women who go through what I have been through. I would greatly appreciate your help. If you would like to speak to me, you can reach me at 347-233-4624. Thank you.

Judge Shelton is the greatest family court judge there ever was. If all of you people saw what kind of person Judge
Shelton is outside of the family court you would agree with me too. You are all wrong. Don't make comments without knowing if you are 100% sure or not. Judge Shelton is kind, caring, respectful, and strict WHEN she has to be.