Md. Judge Arrested at Restaurant

Washington Post ^ | 2-14-2003 | Jamie Stockwell

[Cagey]

A Prince George's County Circuit Court judge was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge Wednesday night after he allegedly became unruly in a Largo restaurant, accosting a fellow patron, shouting profanities at employees and refusing to identify himself to police officers who were called to quiet the disturbance.

Judge Herman C. Dawson, 45, who was appointed to the bench in 1998, was taken to jail in handcuffs about 10 p.m. after he allegedly refused to leave the Outback Steakhouse on Lottsford Court despite being asked to do so repeatedly by employees and county police, according to authorities and the owner of the franchise.

At one point, according to a police affidavit, Dawson "repeated in a loud, boisterous voice, 'Why do I have to leave? Do you know who I am? I am a judge.' "

[Cagey]

'Why do I have to leave? Do you know who I am? I am a judge.' "

And justice for all.

[Petronski]

Outback Steakhouse: "No Rules, Just Right"

I think the judge might be a bit too literal about that slogan.

[AppyPappy]

Do you know who I am?

The poor man. He doesn't even know his own name. You clowns show some compassion.

[Fixit]

There goes the Judge.

Judge Dawson's official home page

---

The Prince George's County Circuit Court

	The Honorable Herman C. Dawson 7th Judicial Circuit Associate Judge
Circuit Court for Prince George's County, MD	Associate Judge, 1998 to present
Private Practice	Operated own law firm from 1980 to 1998, specializing in family law, administrative, civil and criminal litigation
Law School	JD, Howard University School of Law
Undergraduate	BA, Alabama State University
Memberships/Acknowledgements	Former Member, Board of Directors, Prince George's County Bar Association Former Chair, Prince George's County Consumer Protection Commission President-elect, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association Member, Maryland State Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Bar Association Recipient, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association “President's” Award, 1992
Personal Information	Resides in Mitchellville, MD with wife, Paula and three Children, Herman Jr, Marquis and Airelle Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 1653 President, Greater Prince George's County Tennis Foundation, Inc. Coached various teams for the Boys and Girls Clubs in Prince George's County since 1986

[Fixit]

Sorry about the dead space, I'm not sure where that came from.

[aristeides]

Appointed 1998. By Glenspending?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Thanks. "A picture is worth a thousand words."

What do you mean?

[mountaineer]

He sounds like this Pittsburgh judge:

The conduct board alleged that McFalls presided over court business while under the influence of alcohol, appeared intoxicated in public and failed to file required reports on cases assigned to him. In perhaps the most notorious incident, the judge was reported to have dropped his trousers while standing at the bar in a Shadyside restaurant. full story

Apparently, the pressure is just too much for these guys!

[KevinB]

Howard Law School. The same law school where the students who filled the auditorium erupted in cheers when O.J. was found not guilty. Sadly, some of them even become judges.

[apillar]

Unfortunately, before it's over with his good friends in the prosecuting attorneys office will see the charges are dropped on a technicality and the arresting officers and staff of the restaurant will be charged with civil rights violations.

Sorry to be so negative, but it's been my experience that members of the legal profession are worse than police about protecting their own at all costs.

[COBOL2Java]

'Why do I have to leave? Do you know who I am? I am a judge.' "

Presumably a liberal Democrat, which means that in their form of government, the Judiciary is God - can legislate from the bench, ignore laws, make up laws, etc. Precisely the kind of judge the Democrat Senators want, as opposed to Miguel Estrada, eh?

[hardhead]

"Here come 'da judge!"

[sd-joe]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[eno_]

I think he means that it isn't suprising that this guy came from a second/third-tier school and is probably on the bench due to skin color, in combination with the usual set of PC/leftist politics. Even if judgeships are not always awarded on merit, his behavior indicates merit figured less in his nomination than most.