Judging Corrupt Judges in Georgia

At the heart of the American justice system are the concepts of fairness and impartiality, especially on the part of judges. So, what happens when the judges are the ones acting inappropriately?

2010-09-30

September 30, 2010 (Press-News.org) At the heart of the American justice system are the concepts of fairness and impartiality, especially on the part of juries and judges. Judges generally have reputations for knowing the law and applying it justly to the situations and defendants before them. So, what happens when the judges are the ones acting inappropriately?

Following a string of scandals and corrupt practices involving multiple judges in Georgia, the way people in the state view judges is currently under careful review.

A Very Thin Line

There seems to be a very thin line between the judge's bench and the defendant's table in Georgia lately. Over the last two years, 16 judges around the state have been forced to resign because of scandal or misconduct on the job.

While many of the judges faced allegations of a sexual nature, others were involved in voter fraud, misappropriation of state funds and inappropriate behavior during proceedings. One male judge even contacted a female defendant on Facebook to "give her behind-the-scenes advice on her case."

More Scandals, More Complaints

While there are no identifiable similarities in the rash of inappropriate behaviors or resignations, beyond the fact that they are all performed by judges, there is one similar outcome. According to one article on the phenomenon, the compounded impact of one scandalous case involving a judge after another has led to a snowball effect of complaints against judges. In addition, instead of being revered and respected, all judges in Georgia are now under scrutiny by the accused they must confront.

Resign or Be Judged

In Georgia, the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) is in charge of investigating judicial misconduct. Although one Fayetteville attorney noted that the JQC was not as forceful even five years ago, resolutions to current accusations are investigated and resolved more efficiently now.

This may lead more judges to resign, which allows the details of their cases to remain confidential. If a judge chooses to fight an allegation, the JQC can bring formal charges, resulting in a public hearing and ultimately an opinion from the Georgia Supreme Court.

Above the Law

If there is any lesson to be learned here, it is that no one is above the law, not even those who administer it. Professional respect should be earned and not simply given because of power or position, especially in a courtroom.

If you are ever accused of a crime in Georgia and have to go before a judge, be sure to contact a Georgia criminal defense attorney prior to your court date to discuss your rights and options. You should know expect appropriate and respectful from a judge, and you have rights if you are treated otherwise.

Article provided by Ross & Pines, LLC
Visit us at www.rossandpines.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

HP Lawsuit Filed Against Former CEO Will Meet Significant Obstacles

2010-09-30

Former Hewlett-Packard (HP) Chief Executive Officer Mark Hurd has made national headlines once again with the announcement that, after his firing from HP, he will join Oracle Corp., the world's second largest software company, as a president and board member. This announcement comes just a month after Hurd's public departure from HP following allegations that he violated standards of business conduct. As Business Week reports, this is an excellent move for both Hurd and Oracle. Oracle is shifting its focus from software to hardware, and Hurd has experience with both. ...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What It Means For You

2010-09-30

The recent financial meltdown revealed problems within the financial system, especially for consumers, which is why Congress passed new legislation intended to safeguard financial transactions and stabilize the entire industry. The Frank-Dodd Act creates an entirely new federal agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is designed to protect consumers from shady or fraudulent transactions and will oversee all financial companies, including banks, credit unions and private mortgage firms that do business with the public. The act will create or improve rules ...

New DUI Law Allows for 10 Year Revocations for Repeat Offenders

2010-09-30

William Scott Simon, of Belmont, was sent to prison late last year after being convicted for his eighth DUI, stemming from a January 2009 incident. Mr. Simon previously had his license suspended in 2004 after his seventh DUI conviction, but his license was eventually reinstated. While considered an extreme case, it prompted state Assemblyman Jerry Hill to author Assembly Bill 1601, which would allow judges to revoke the licenses of habitual DUI offenders for 10 years. This new law would apply to people who have three or more convictions within a 10 year period. Current ...

Dog Owners Feel The Bite Of Higher Insurance Costs

2010-09-30

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States 4.7 million people are victims of dog bites. Of those people attacked about 900,000 are forced to seek medical attention. In this unfortunate situation, the responsibility for the attack falls squarely on the dog's owner. If found responsible, the owner could be required to pay for the victim's medical costs and lost wages. Insurance Companies pay the majority of these claims, and are passing the increased costs to their policyholders, and limiting coverage. Insurance companies ...

Pseudotumor Cerebri: An Often Misdiagnosed Illness

2010-09-30

Pseudotumor cerebri (pronounced SOO-doh-too-mur SER-uh-bry) is an illness that can cause serious long term health consequences. Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri mimic those of a brain tumor; however, no tumor is present. In fact, pseudotumor cerebri literally means "false brain tumor." Although pseudotumor cerebri can lead to severe complications, it is often reversible, especially if correctly diagnosed at an early stage. What is Known About Pseudotumor Cerebri Pseudotumor cerebri occurs when pressure inside the skull increases. There is often no obvious reason for ...

Safety First: School Bus and Van Safety

2010-09-30

There are 1.5 million children transported on Pennsylvania roads each day, across more than 346 million miles annually, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles. And every year, children are severely injured or killed by drivers disobeying Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law. The law requires drivers to stop for any stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing when meeting or overtaking the bus on the road. Vehicles must be stopped at least ten feet away from the bus and remain stopped until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop ...

Old-Fashioned Distractions Are Just as Deadly Behind the Wheel

2010-09-30

A Charlotte family is still reeling from the distracted-driving death of a loving wife and mother who was struck and killed while walking on a sidewalk along Craig Avenue. The victim, 33-year-old Susan Karabulut, was taking a Sunday-morning walk on August 22 with a fellow nurse when a car driven by 19-year-old Leah Ann Walton jumped the curb and struck her, pinning her body and dragging her for a short distance. Mrs. Karabulut died at the scene. The other victim, 47-year-old Lisa McIe, was critically injured. Ms. Walton told police that she took her eyes off the road ...

New Jersey Senators Push Bill to Expand the State's DNA Database

2010-09-30

Senator Nicholas Sacco and Senator John Girgenti, Chairman of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, have proposed a law that would expand New Jersey's criminal DNA database. If enacted, the law could have a significant impact on people suspected of committing certain violent crimes, such as murder and aggravated assault . DNA is a powerful piece of evidence used to identify alleged perpetrators of crimes and also to exonerate individuals who are wrongfully accused or convicted. DNA is present in almost every cell in the human body and is unique to each person, ...

Protect Yourself from Drunk Drivers

2010-09-30

More people these days are drinking and driving. This is especially scary if you are one of the 4 in 5 people that view drunk driving as a serious threat to the safety of yourself and family. A new study conducted by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has found that 1 in 5 drivers admit to driving within two hours of drinking. It also estimated the number of drunken driving trips taken by drivers in the past month to be 85.5 million, up from 73.7 million in 2004. In addition, the study found that young adult drivers are drinking more. The 16 to ...

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Pennsylvania and Judicial Corruption

2010-09-30

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently reinstated a controversial ruling that had been issued by corrupt former Luzerne County judge Michael Conahan. The new ruling was issued in the Forester Vanderhoff v. Harleysville Insurance case, and it restored a 2004 decision by Conahan that allowed the case to be brought to arbitration. The case involved claims of a so-called "phantom vehicle" causing a car crash when a truck driver rear-ended a car in Hanover Township. This is one of many uninsured or underinsured motorist arbitration rulings that are part of the federal government's ...

Judging Corrupt Judges in Georgia

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: