Some times judges DO 'get it'!

[Cuban_Liberal]

I just finished reading a story in our local newspaper about a case related to a rather tawdry criminal case involving an ex-circuit judge here; the case involving the ex-judge is convoluted, but basically the judge looted an elderly widow's multi-million dollar trust fund and engaged in numerous shady real-estate transactions, etc. . He was caught, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to a seven-year prison term in 1998. Fast forward to yesterday at the county courthouse...

The judge was brought to the courthouse (in handcuffs, shackles and belly chains) pursuant to a court order compelling him to testify in a hearing on a mortgage foreclosure action against a young couple who had purchased a small farm and farmhouse from the widow's trust. The judge had converted the loan proceeds to his own use and left the heirs with nothing; the bank who loaned the money and took the mortgage had received no payments in some time, because the young couple who purchased the property claimed that it had hidden defects that rendered the home uninhabitable and that that forced them to spend their funds on suitable housing and, subsequently, attorney's fees to defend themselves in the instant foreclosure. Any way...

The former judge took the stand, immediately invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to say a word about anything. The presiding judge ordered him to answer the attorney's questions, and he again refused. The judge then found him in contempt of court and ordered him jailed for an indefinite length of time after his release from state prison, that event being scheduled for this coming April. His attorney immediately protested and the judge said, "Your client has put many innocent people through sheer hell in the last 8 years as a result of his crimes, and I frankly don't care if he has to spend the remainder of his wasted life behind bars; not only has he nearly ruined the lives of many, many innocent people, but he also breached the highest public trust with which this state can entrust someone--- a judgeship. For you to stand here and argue that his pending incarceration for contempt would somehow constitute 'cruel and unusual punishment' is, at best, cynical and at worst, callous beyond words. Your client will tell this court what he knows and will do his best to clear up this mess he created, or he will die in the county jail. If he understands nothing else I've said today, make sure he understands that." 'Bang!' went the gavel, and court ended for the day. Another hearing is scheduled in 30 days.

Good job, Judge Glenn!

:thumbsup:

PS-- I initially forgot to mention that this ex-judge is also a RW Republican 'law and order' type.

:evilgrin:

[DebJ]

1. wow. great story.

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. Thanks.

I'll admit to grinning shamelessly while reading it,too.

;)