Maryland Judge Arrested at Restaurant (drunk?)

wash post ^ | Friday, February 14, 2003; Page B01 | Jamie Stockwell

[dennisw]

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.' "

Adina M. Lavoie, the franchise owner, said Dawson arrived about 5 p.m. and sat at a table with a couple of friends. Over the next several hours, she said, the judge consumed three mixed drinks, ate three loaves of honey bread and visited with acquaintances at other tables and in the restaurant's bar area.

[dennisw]

Is only part of the story. Go here for the rest:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5798-2003Feb13.html

[Free_at_last_-2001]

"Tired and emotional M'lud"?

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Do you know who I am? - well if you have to ask - it's time to go home!

[steveo]

What a Blooming Onion Idiot

[buccaneer81]

"Hold muh robe" alert...

[MistrX]

Another Democrat-appointed judge who can't hold his liquor.

[Prince Caspian]

HERMAN C. DAWSON, Associate Judge, Prince George's County Circuit Court, 7th Judicial Circuit, since December 21, 1998. Chair, Child Support Enforcement Committee, 2000-01 (member, 1999-01), and Civil Law and Procedure Committee, 2001-, Maryland Judicial Conference.

Associate County Attorney, Prince George's County, 1984-90. Past chair, Consumer Protection Commission, Prince George's County. Born October 11, 1954. Alabama State University, B.A. (political science), 1977; Howard University School of Law, J.D., 1980. Law clerk, Operating Rights Division, U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission, 1980-81. Law intern to Judge James H. Taylor, 7th Judicial Circuit, 1983-84. Member, Prince George's County Bar Association (past board member); J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association (past president, vice-president, & treasurer). Past board member, Prince George's Hospital Center Foundation; Center for Community Development for Prince George's County, Maryland. President, Greater Prince George's County Tennis Foundation, Inc. President's Award, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, 1992.

[dennisw]

From Washington Times-->


A Prince George's County judge was arrested at a Largo restaurant this week and charged with disturbing the peace, law enforcement officials said. Top Stories 

Judge Herman Curtis Dawson, 48, of Mitchellville, was released on personal recognizance hours after his arrest Wednesday night at the Outback Steakhouse on Lottsford Court.
Officers took him immediately to the Prince George's County Detention Center, where he was booked. 
"This will be handled like every other case," Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn C. Ivey said of the misdemeanor count, which will be handled by a Howard County prosecutor to avoid a conflict of interest. "We're just letting it run through the normal process."

Judge Dawson appeared early yesterday before a District Court commissioner, requested an expedited trial date and was released pending trial. Mr. Ivey said as of yesterday afternoon no judge had been assigned to the case.

County police officers said they arrested Judge Dawson after unsuccessful efforts to verbally resolve an employee's complaint of a disorderly man inside the restaurant.

Shortly before 10 p.m., officers arrived and found Judge Dawson at the bar where he was arguing loudly with two friends, court documents state. After repeatedly being told to leave, he repeatedly resisted and physically refused, drawing the attention of other restaurant patrons.

"Why do I have to leave? Do you know who I am? (Hmmm....no) I am a judge! I don't have to do nothing!" (Learn some proper English!) he said, according to court documents.
Near the eatery's entry, Judge Dawson continued to resist and assumed a boisterous demeanor, court documents state. He was escorted outdoors, instructed to leave and resumed "an aggressive manner by raising his right hand and index finger."

After a final instruction to leave that was disregarded, county police charged him with disturbing the peace.
Police investigators took statements from several witnesses, including some who are not employed by the restaurant.

"You hate to see someone like Judge Dawson go through something like this," Mr. Ivey said. "He has gone above and beyond the call of duty. He is a pillar in the community, especially for juvenile issues. By all accounts he's been an excellent judge; a longtime public servant." (What does "is a pillar in the community" mean?)

Documents state that Judge Dawson refused to provide the necessary identification information upon arrival at the county Department of Corrections.
Judge Dawson was charged with one count of disturbing the peace, which is punishable by a maximum penalty of $500 and 60 days in jail, police said.

Judge Dawson, who has been a Circuit Court judge in the county for four years and routinely presides over criminal court cases, was not available for comment, according to an assistant.

[dennisw]

Like the WashTimes article said: He's a pillar in the community.

[colorado tanker]

He's a pillar in the community.

Well, he should be, as stiff as he was.

[mombonn]

3 drinks, 3 loaves of bread in 4-1/2 hours? He may have gotten loud, but it hardly sounds like he was drunk.

Cheapskate, yes. I don't think Outback would appreciate me hanging around eating bread for that long without also ordering dinner.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[babaloo999]

"You hate to see someone like Judge Dawson go through something like this," Mr. Ivey said. "He has gone above and beyond the call of duty. He is a pillar in the community, especially for juvenile issues. By all accounts he's been an excellent judge; a longtime public servant."

IOW, this case will be dropped like a hot potato after the attention fades away. Maybe the restaurant will have a "surprise" inspection coming up. Not that there would be any retaliation of any sort, that kind of thing doesn't happen in America in this day and age.

[Sgt Hulka 123]

Affirmative lawyerin'...

[VRWCmember]

3 drinks, 3 loaves of bread in 4-1/2 hours? He may have gotten loud, but it hardly sounds like he was drunk.
Cheapskate, yes. I don't think Outback would appreciate me hanging around eating bread for that long without also ordering dinner.

Sounds like this judge should have to wear a warning label:
Instant @$$hole. Just add alcohol.

[Republicus2001]

former Los Angeles mayor Richard Rhiorden once related how he was visiting an old age home and said to one bed-ridden women - "do you know who I am?" and she replied "no, but if you ask at the front desk they can tell you"...

[meenie]

This sounds like a case of m-i-s-t-r-a-a-k-e-n;; i-d-en-t-i-t-e-e.

[dennisw]

The good judge was on the beer and bread diet.

[LuLuLuLu]

You've all missed the point. He was eating HONEY bread. Honey is a major ingredient in mead, so the whole "meal" was a double whammy.

I think it's a plot. A dirty evil plot to besmirch this man's stellar reputation.

Yep. That's it.

[sauropod]

3 mixed drinks over 5 hours is gonna make him drunk?