Judge of the Day

Judge of the Day: Penny Brown Reynolds

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Judge Penny Brown Reynolds Penny Reynolds.jpgWhen it comes to the television bench, the great state of Florida seems to be the feeder court. See the list of Floridian judges turned TV judges at the end of this post.
But Florida doesn’t have a monopoly on television jurists. From the Fulton County Daily Report:

Writing that “God has called me to a higher place,” Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds on Monday notified Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue that she would resign, effective Oct. 22, to embark on her new career as a television judge on “Family Court with Judge Penny.”

Because the television bench is certainly a “higher place” than the real thing. Higher-paying, at least — and God wants us all to be rich.

In her letter to Perdue, Reynolds said she leaves with a legacy that “includes a current case docket, never having been reversed by an appellate court on any criminal matter and only reversed in a few civil matters.”

That’s an impressive record for a judge who was appointed to the bench back in 2000. Georgia’s loss is the boob tube’s gain. We wish Judge Reynolds the best in her new role.
Judge to Resign Next Month for TV Gig [Fulton County Daily Report via Law.com]

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Judge of the Day: Ronald Tills

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tills.jpgNew York judge Ronald Tills is the guy you want in charge of your bachelor party. You might think he’s out of touch at 73 years old, but he still knows where to find the ladies. Unfortunately, they’re the kind you have to pay for.

Tills pleaded guilty last week to violating the Mann Act by bringing a prostitute across a state line. Among his other prostitute-related offenses, as reported by the Buffalo News:

  • He was responsible for recruiting out-of-state prostitutes to work a Jesters meeting in Dunkirk “in or about September 2001,” while serving as director of the Buffalo chapter of the Jesters.

  • He recruited an illegal alien prostitute from a North Tonawanda massage parlor to service men at a Jesters event in Kentucky in October 2005.
  • He arranged for transporting prostitutes from Buffalo Niagara International Airport to a national Jesters meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont., in the spring of 2006.

    • A retired acting New York Supreme Court justice and Court of Claims judge, Tills must have been known as the “Grand Poobah of Prostitute Procurement” to the Royal Order of Jesters.

    According to the Jesters website, it’s a Masonic organization descended from the Shriners, but it’s not into charity like most Masonic groups. It has “a fun ‘degree’, with absolutely no serious intent.” Just the serious intent to get busy with prostitutes.

    Former judge Tills faces likely prison term after admitting he recruited prostitutes [Buffalo News]

    Former Judge Pleads Guilty to Transporting Prostitute Across State Lines [New York Law Journal]

    Surely You Jest: Former New York Judge Admits to Violating Mann Act [WSJ Law Blog]

    Judge of the Day: James Muir-Little

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    James Muir Little Joanne Hall Gavin Hall.jpgThe end of this tale is tragic and grim, but we’ll focus on the salacious over the sad. From the Telegraph:

    James Muir-Little, 45, a deputy district judge, resigned his post before the outcome of disciplinary proceedings against him. He had cheated on his own wife with Joanne Hall, 31, a cardiac nurse, after meeting her through and internet website for swingers.

    They exchanged naked pictures and sexual fantasies by email before twice meeting for sex at hotels. In one email Mrs Hall promised to be a “dirty little slut” for the judge.

    Not to be confused with clean big sluts. Or Nazis German prison workers. They’re popular on the other side of the pond.
    The tragic part is that when Joanne Hall’s husband, Gavin Hall, learned of her infidelity, he killed their three-year-old daughter in revenge.
    But let’s not dwell on that. More details about the swinger judge, after the jump.

    double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Judge of the Day: James Muir-Little”

    Judge of the Day: Ernest B. Murphy

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    Ernest Murphy Judge Ernest B Murphy Above the Law blog.jpgBack in 2007, Judge Ernest B. Murphy won his libel case case against the Boston Herald. The Herald had reported that Murphy was soft on crime and, well, nobody puts Baby in the corner.
    But winning just wasn’t enough for Judge Murphy. After he won he sent two threatening letters to Patrick Purcell, publisher of the Herald, on court stationery. The letters, which included the use of all-caps as pioneered by Chief Justice John Marshall, demanded that the Herald drop its appeal and hand deliver a check for half a million dollars more than the judgment, plus interest.
    According to the Boston Globe, “Purcell testified that the letters were intimidating and looked like ransom notes.”
    Yesterday, Murphy agreed to resign. Murphy claimed to have post-traumatic stress from his battle with the Herald. The Commission on Judicial Conduct had recommended a $25,000 fine, but they may amend their report in light of Murphy’s resignation.
    We’d make a joke about how a judge could incur psychologically destructive stress from participating in a lawsuit, but we’re terrified that Murphy will sue us under the ADA.
    Judge who sued Herald agrees to leave bench [Boston Globe via WSJ Law Blog]
    Earlier: Murphy v. Boston Herald: Some Beantown Benchslappery

    Judge of the Day: Ashley McKathan

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    Ashley McKathan Judge Ashley McKathan.jpgAlabama state court judges: they love themselves some Ten Commandments.
    Just like Roy Moore, former chief justice of Alabama, Judge Ashley McKathan thinks the “higher law” has a place in the courtroom. Four years ago, the county circuit court judge had the Ten Commandments embroidered on his judicial robe. Presumably it’s a silent reminder, to himself and to those in his courtroom, of the Really Big Judge upstairs.
    Now he’s in trouble with the American Civil Liberties Union for invoking the Big Judge in the courtroom again — this time out loud. The ACLU has filed a complaint against him with the Judicial Inquiry Commission for violating ethics rules and the U.S. Constitution. From CNN:

    The ACLU complaint said McKathan dropped to his knees and prayed aloud during a court hearing in February. He told the 100 people in the courtroom that he was not afraid to call on the name of Jesus Christ, witnesses said, and ordered all to join hands and pray, according to the complaint filed soon after the hearing….

    In response to the complaint, McKathan told the Mobile Press-Register for a story Thursday: “Whatever comes of all that, I’ll continue to have peace.” Quoting Romans in the King James version of the Bible, the judge added: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.”
    Amen.
    Complaint against judge praying in court [CNN]

    Judge of the Day: Carlton Vines

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    Vines.jpgJudge Carlton Vines presides over traffic violations and DUIs in Chattooga County, Georgia. It’s a tiny county with a population of just over 25,000. The local newspaper, The Summerville News, has an ongoing investigative series examining the county’s drunk-driving phenomenon and growing number of DUI arrests.
    Unfortunately, Judge Vines has become a part of the phenomenon. He was arrested in November of last year for driving drunk and leaving the scene of an accident after swerving into another car. The coppers just released the dash-cam video from the arrest. The man was trashed, slurring, and stumbling… though still cogent enough to refuse the breathalyzer.

    From WBS TV:

    Vines pleaded guilty to DUI charges in April. He has since spent three nights in jail, paid fines, done community service and was on house arrest.

    On the tape, Vines can be heard admitting he has had “over the limit.” At one point on the tape, an officer asks, “Do you remember the wreck you were involved in?” Vines can be heard responding, “I’m not going to admit or deny it but I will take responsibility.”

    A nolo plea — or just good drunken logic? Vines is under voluntary suspension, and the Georgia State Judicial Commission gets to decide whether he returns to the bench.
    Judge Vines makes some bizarre comment about sharecropping at the end of the YouTube video. Can someone from rural Georgia please explain?
    Caught On Tape: Georgia Judge Arrested For DUI [WSB TV]
    Drunk Judge Arrested [YouTube.com]

    Judge of the Day: James M. Brooks

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    Brooks.jpgATL honored a California trial judge, James M. Brooks, with Judge of the Day last June, when an appeals court ordered a new trial after he created a “circus-like atmosphere” in the original one. On Monday, the California Commission on Judicial Performance gave him the smackdown, issuing a decision and order imposing public admonishment [PDF].
    ATL can’t help but be part of the humiliation. These are some of the hilarious awful things he did during the trial in question, which are listed as reasons for the admonishment:

    1. “Overruled” Signs
    2. The Twilight Zone
    3. Comments During the Reading of Stevenson Deposition/ Litton Examination
    4. Soccer Cards

    The court order is not allowing us to copy text, and we don’t have a court reporter on staff to transcribe. To sum up, Judge Brooks was overseeing an employment discrimination suit, and spent a good amount of the trial exchanging jokes with the defense attorney. He made a hand-lettered “Overruled” sign for overruling the plaintiff attorney’s objections. The defense attorney later provided him with a better one.
    Brooks let the defense attorney mock the plaintiff’s testimony by singing the Twilight Zone theme song, apparently off-key, and started using a soccer system of “red cards” to censure attorney behavior.
    Judge Brooks, you are officially publicly admonished. But we must say, you sound like a fun guy!
    JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE COMMISSION ISSUES PUBLIC ADMONISHMENT OF JUDGE JAMES M. BROOKS [PDF]
    Decision and Order Imposing Public Admonishment [PDF]

    Judge of the Day: Fred Biery

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    Fred_Biery.jpgThose Texans love the word of God. In 2005, they went to SCOTUS to defend a monument to the 10 Commandments that stands on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. Hailing from San Antonio, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery is invoking the higher power in his judgment against a religious school’s right to join a Texan school membership league.

    In a ruling Tuesday denying Cornerstone Christian Schools’ attempt to join the state’s premier extracurricular organization, a federal judge chided the school’s founder and famed preacher John Hagee for contradicting at times his own Christian tenets, using numerous references to the Bible, Koran and even a famous fairy tale.

    Who needs precedent and constitutional law when there’s so much wisdom to be found in Grimm tales and Disney movies? Let’s look at the opinion….

    double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Judge of the Day: Fred Biery”

    Judge of the Day: Jay Spechler

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    Jay Spechler Judge Jay Spechler Jay Sprechler Above the Law blog.jpgThe fabulous Monica Goodling — if you’re on Facebook, join her fan club — isn’t the only person being accused of anti-lesbian bias these days. From the Daily Business Review (via JAABlog):

    double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Judge of the Day: Jay Spechler”

    Judge of the Day: Steven Servaas

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    Servaas.jpgMichigan brings us today’s Judge of the Day, and there’s a shout-out to the University of Michigan… sort of. Rockford District Judge Steven Servaas never grew out of the middle school humor stage. Apparently, he likes to doodle on court documents and make jokes about chest size:

    The State Judicial Tenure Commission is trying to force Servaas off the bench with claims he made inappropriate remarks to female court employees, drew inappropriate cartoons featuring male and female body parts on court documents, and lived outside of the area his Rockford court covers.
    One of the allegations involves a remark Servaas admits making to a female court worker, Rebecca Andrus.
    It involved a University of Michigan sweatshirt she wore during a November 2007 retirement party at the court’s Grand Rapids Township Division and her chest size.
    “I said Beck, if you are going to wear a sweatshirt like that, you need bigger chest or a smaller school, like Albion, or, I mean Alma,” said Servaas.
    “Do you think it’s acceptable to make jokes of a sexual nature with employees and staffers?” he was asked by Paul Fisher, the attorney for the Tenure Commission.
    “It wasn’t sexual,” Servaas replied. “It was a party and yeah, I go to a party to make jokes and hear jokes.”

    We go to parties to hear and make jokes too, but that’s a bad one! We bet no one at the party, or in the court, laughed.
    He’s also in trouble for living outside of his district, showing his jock strap to female co-workers at a Christmas party, and drawing what looked like a penis on court files. He denies the doodling and says no one saw him draw it. Hmmm….. We love that this story comes to us from Wood TV.
    Embattled judge takes the stand [WOODTV]

    Judge of the Day: Marvin Arrington

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    Marvin Arrington Judge Marvin S Arrington Above the Law blog.jpgJudge Marvin S. Arrington, who has served since 2002 as a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County, Georgia, is profiled on a website called The History Makers. The bio describes Judge Arrington’s achievements as a pathbreaking African-American lawyer, politician, and judge — also described by the judge in his book, Making My Mark: The Story of a Man Who Wouldn’t Stay in His Place.
    Well, it seems that this “History Maker” continues to make headlines. This “man who wouldn’t stay in his place” doesn’t want you to stay in his place, either — at least if you’re white.
    Judge Arrington recently ordered white lawyers out of his courtroom. This short video clip about the expulsion hovers near the top of today’s headlines on CNN.
    Judge Arrington didn’t expel the whiteys for Reverend Wright-type reasons. Rather, he wanted to deliver a heartfelt lecture to an all-black audience, about race in America and how they should conduct themselves. See also Bill Cosby.
    The judge was certainly well-intentioned. But tossing out all the white folk was a pretty dumb idea unwise (at least from a PR standpoint). Judge Arrington is therefore our Judge of the Day.
    Courtroom Race Lecture [CNN Video]
    Black Judge Orders Whites Out Of Atlanta Court [WSBTV.com]
    Hon. Marvin S. Arrington, Sr. Biography [The History Makers]
    Making My Mark: The Story of a Man Who Wouldn’t Stay in His Place [BN.com]
    Fulton County Superior Court – Marvin S. Arrington appointed [BNet.com]

    Judge of the Day: Richard Sasso

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    sasso_richard copy.jpgTechnically, this New Jersey judge is our Ex-Judge of the Day, since he retired in January for “health reasons.” He is accused of PUI (presiding under the influence), bullying people in his courtroom, and tearing up a go-go bar. Oh, is that unusual behavior for a judge?
    From NJ.com:

    The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct today released a complaint against a former municipal court judge from Somerset County, accusing him of multiple offenses, including presiding while intoxicated, causing a ruckus at a Bound Brook go-go bar and calling a police chief to retrieve him because he was too drunk to drive.

    Richard Sasso, 52, retired from the bench earlier this year citing health reasons. He formerly served in Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Warren and Watchung.

    You can check out the complaint filed against Sasso here (PDF). There are some great transcripts of Sasso abusing his judicial power. But our favorite line was uttered to a bartender at Torpedo’s Go Go Bar, a “gentleman’s club,” of course:

    “Do you know who I am? I’m the Bound Brook judge.”

    Not anymore.
    Ex-Judge Charged With Drunkenness in Court, Disorderly Conduct in Public [New Jersey Law Journal on Law.com]
    Ex-judge charged with misconduct [Courier News]
    Somerset judge named in 7-count conduct complaint [The Star Ledger]