Judge punished for forcing cheers

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | Wednesday, August 9, 2006 | no byline

[weegee]

OLYMPIA -- A state panel has disciplined three judges, including a Tacoma jurist who ordered courtroom cheers for the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks before issuing a manslaughter sentence.

The state Commission on Judicial Conduct gave each judge an admonishment, the panel's lowest-ranking punishment, in rulings released Friday.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Beverly Grant's discipline stems from a Feb. 3 hearing in which she sentenced Steve Keo Teang to 13 1/2 years for manslaughter in the 2005 shooting death of Tino Patricelli, 28.

Before the proceedings, Grant asked about 100 people in court to say "Go Seahawks" before taking their seats. Dissatisfied with their low volume, she repeated the request.

The Seahawks played in the Super Bowl that weekend. Patricelli's stepmother said she was offended in part because the game fell on the anniversary of her stepson's death.

Grant, who was appointed to the bench in 2003, apologized the following Monday. She later filed the formal conduct complaint against herself.

Also disciplined Friday was Tacoma Municipal Court Judge David Ladenburg, who kicked a Muslim woman out of court when she declined to remove her head scarf.

The third admonishment involved Spokane County Superior Court Judge Robert D. Austin, who told jurors he was surprised by their guilty verdict in a 2005 drug case.

[kinoxi]

Ren and Stimpy
'I'll teach them to be happy'
:)

[AbeKrieger]

Ringling Brothers, Blue-State Barnum & Bailey courtroom.

[SoftballMominVA]

In the immortal words of John Riggins (spoken while on the floor at a WH dinner, almost passed out drunk) to Sandra Day O'Connor

"Loosen up Sandy baby, you're too tight"

[dinoparty]

The Judge filed a complaint against herself? Obviously, she didn't think it was improper at the time she did it. Heaven forbid she actually stick to her guns in the face of public pressure, egadz.

As for the actual act...I see it as tacky and misplaced, but did she do anything worse than other judges that crack jokes during a trial to ease the tension? (Remember Judge Ito?)

[kevkrom]

She later filed the formal conduct complaint against herself.

Fair enough -- gotta give some credit to a person who realized that they made an error in judgement and is willing to own up to it.

[warrior9504]

lot of good it did her. GO STEELERS!!!

[GunnyHartman]

"GO STEELERS!!!"

This time win it without the refs' help.

[PAR35]

The judge ought to invite the step mother back into court, apologize again, and then re-sentence the perp to probation. I don't see much problem with what the other two judges did, either.

[dinoparty]

boo hoo hoo

[cripplecreek]

Aww geeeze.

[kevkrom]

This time win it without the refs' help.

Oh, stop whining like a Democrat who loses an election. ;)

[John123]

Also disciplined Friday was Tacoma Municipal Court Judge David Ladenburg, who kicked a Muslim woman out of court when she declined to remove her head scarf.

Will someone show me where in our Constitution that states people have a "right" to wear a scarf in our courtrooms? I just can't seem to find it.

Thanks.

[subterfuge]

Is it the 37th ammendment that gives all the right to not be offended? CAn't remember which one it is.

[Teacher317]

Also disciplined Friday was Tacoma Municipal Court Judge David Ladenburg, who kicked a Muslim woman out of court when she declined to remove her head scarf.

Umm, the judge has every right to remove someone who refuses to comply with a reasonable request... or are we now saying that it is unreasonable to ask someone to remove their headwear if they are Muslim? How PC of us.

The third admonishment involved Spokane County Superior Court Judge Robert D. Austin, who told jurors he was surprised by their guilty verdict in a 2005 drug case.

I'd love to know more about this one. How egregious was it? Were they just looking to punish an unsympathetic character, despite the evidence?

[mkjessup]

In the immortal words of John Riggins (spoken while on the floor at a WH dinner, almost passed out drunk) to Sandra Day O'Connor:
"Loosen up Sandy baby, you're too tight"

And don't forget Riggo's other infamous comment to the wife of the Egyptian Ambassador as he gazed down her dress and made a comment about "always wanted to climb the pyramids".

LOL!

God love him, Riggo (IMHO) was, and always will be one of THE greatest running backs in the history of the Washington Redskins.

And I understand that he got himself straightened out too, and has been doing some off-Broadway theatre work from time to time.

[MEGoody]

Oh, for heaven's sake. If these nuts want to discipline some judges, I can think of lots better reasons than asking the people in the courtroom to say 'Go Seahawks'.

[GunnyHartman]

"Oh, stop whining like a Democrat who loses an election."

I was temporarily posessed by the lost congressional spirit of Cynthia McKinney. Yikes, I never want to go through that again! I'm going to take a shower.

[blau993]

I too would like to know more about the last one. It is not uncommon for judges to comment on jury verdicts. I have a hunch it may be more the way he said it that the substance of what he said.