Posted on 11/14/2006 12:56:21 PM PST by neverdem
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY Voters removed a 3rd District judge who reduced the sentence of a sex offender and also caught the wrath of deer hunters and gun owners for an anti-hunting diatribe from the bench.
In Salt Lake, Tooele and Summit counties, 54 percent of voters Tuesday said Judge Leslie Lewis should not be retained, a rare defeat for a sitting jurist.
Lewis, a judge since 1991, was out of town and unavailable for comment, court spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said Wednesday.
“I just don’t like the way this one was done,” said Greg Skordas, one of 40 lawyers who bought a newspaper ad supporting Lewis. “I felt it was underhanded.”
Judicial elections rarely get headlines, but Lewis found herself in the crosshairs of opponents, who set up a Web site that showed her berating a man in an illegal hunting case. She also sent the man’s brother to a holding cell when he left the courtroom in a huff.
Separately, a week before the election, an attorney said Lewis had reduced the sentence of his client, a sex offender, to 20 years from 30 years and repeatedly discouraged him from telling prosecutors.
Salt Lake County prosecutors filed a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Commission. Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has asked an appeals court to reverse the reduced sentence.
“We helped make some of Utah’s deer hunters and gun owners aware of the fact that she was expressing extreme prejudice against a lawful activity that many of them engage in,” said N.W. Clayton, spokesman for a group called Gun Owners of Utah.
While the case involved poaching, which is illegal, Lewis said she was prejudiced against “people who kill deer” and recused herself.
“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?” Lewis asked Michael Jacobson during the February hearing.
To fill Lewis’ seat, a 3rd District nominating commission will recommend five candidates to Gov. Jon Huntsman. He will pick one and send the nomination to the Senate.
If there's anyone who knows about underhanded its a lawyer.
He's just mad that he was out done.
No, no. You were correct in your observation and not the least bit overwrought.
Before I met my husband, I never knew who to vote for in elections when it came to judges. Now I can ask him and he finds out for me because he is an attorney. But how are other people supposed to know who is a good judge and who is a bad judge? More information needs to be put out there with regard to this prior to elections.
At the same time, maybe there is information out there and I'm just not seeing it.
A. "Your Honor"
See comment# 58.
Awesome news. This megalomaniac was a disgrace.
I saw the video, and wanted to smack her.
I couldn't be more pleased.
In my state the League of Women Voters puts out a pretty good guide.
Thanks for the info!
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Thanks.
Deer.
I was wrong. Apparently Gov. Bangerter did so. I think most of his appointments were good, oh well she's not there anymore. Here's her bio with the reference to Bangerter:
JUDGE LESLIE A. LEWIS
Hey Joe ... there were only three of those SC nutbars from 2000 left, and they were voted-on this past election.
Were they kicked off? I can't believe I didn't check. We got rid of 3 in 2002, and 3 more in 2004. Tell me - tell me.............FRegards
EXCELLENT!!
I think voters should have the ability to get scumbag judges off the bench everywhere.
LOL
“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?”
Have you ever actually checked your grammar?
Nope all retained with plenty to spare.
How soon we forget.
"Separately, a week before the election, an attorney said Lewis had reduced the sentence of his client, a sex offender, to 20 years from 30 years and repeatedly discouraged him from telling prosecutors."
A decent lawyer that is the exception that proves the rule!
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