I agree.
This one in Texas, Judge Vanessa Gilmore appointed by Clinton, is not insane, but a terrible judge.
She throws tantrums (and her keys) in open court and acts like an arrogant "queen" rather than a judge.
Here are some ratings and comments of her by both defense and prosecutors.
The Robing Room - Judge Vanessa Gilmore.
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
Comment #: 3702
Rating:1.8
Comments:
Judge Gilmore does not possess nor does she appear to aspire to the qualities of a minimally acceptable judge. She is routinely belittling, arrogant and impatient with counsel both in front of and outside the presence of the jury. I have seen her be rude and impatient to witnesses (again, in front of the jury). Her temperament usually varies from one of only two modes: angry and not paying attention. And when she is not paying attention, her lack of interest is obvious. She can appear annoyed and disinterested when lawyers make objections. Her shortcomings are more than a mere inconvenience for the lawyers with cases before her. Her poor temperament and questionable reasoning skills can negatively affect outcomes.
Prosecutor
Comment #: 3557
Rating:1.7
Comments:
She has a horrible judicial demeanor. She frequently, and without foundation, accuses both prosecutors and defense lawyers of bad faith. She routinely receives the lowest score in the Houston Bar judicial polls. She takes an unduly long time to provide a written opinion on a legal issue, and the reasoning is usually very confusing.
Civil Litigation - Private Comment #: 2941
Rating:3.3
Comments:
Arrogant and harsh...has a tendency to request and consider ex parte communication...simply a bad judge
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Comment #: 1516
Rating:3.9
Comments:
Very arrogant; gets petulant on being reversed.
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Nobody can stand her.
Lifetime appointments for these judges is a bad idea that must be reformed.
She is so bad, the Fifth Circuit even slammed her down. She tried to accuse the prosecution in a case of only seeking the death penalty against a man because he was black. The problem was, the black man roasted illegal immigrants in his tractor trailer and would not allow air in, and they died an incredibly cruel death. To her, it was "racism."
William Case and Judge Gilmore
And then there are these:
* She has thrown her keys in open court at an attorney (I believe it might have been an AUSA) for calling her "ma'am";
* She ordered an AUSA to have John Ashcroft personally write her a letter explaining the DOJ's reasons for seeking the death penalty against one defendant but not others [the Williams case, discussed in more detail below];
* When she didn't like the particular font counsel used, she told him that she threw his motion in the trash without reading it, and then she ruled against him;
* During trial she is happy to make findings contrary to stipulations of the parties; and
* She encourages ex parte contact with the court and attempts to prevent record-making: any discovery "motions" must be way of a one-page letter to the court. She will then have a hearing which she considers an "oral motion to compel." She will happily rule without actually seeing any of the discovery propounded.
She was only 34 years old when appointed by Clinton, and everyone knew she was not qualified then.
Isn't it wonderful they get to sit on the bench - for life?!