Sounds like something Judge Hatchett'd do.
Posted on 10/27/2004 12:15:00 PM PDT by SmithL
DALLAS -- A judge who welcomed a former fugitive back to her courtroom with balloons, streamers and a cake defended her actions Wednesday, saying that getting a killer and abuser of women off the streets is reason to celebrate.
Judge Faith Johnson threw the party Monday upon sentencing 53-year-old Billy Wayne Williams to life in prison.
Williams, who previously served time in prison for killing his wife, went on the lam a year ago while on trial in Johnson's court on charges he choked his girlfriend until she passed out. He was convicted in absentia of aggravated assault.
"A full year later, he was recaptured, off the streets, and no longer a community threat. And, yes, I threw a party," the judge said in a statement.
The judge said about 4 million U.S. women a year are physically abused by their husbands or live-in partners, and some 30 percent of female murder victims in this country are slain by their husbands or boyfriends.
"When these kind of stats begin to shrink, then we'll have cause to celebrate," she said. "Until then, this man's recapture -- particularly in national domestic violence month -- sends the message that the law is against domestic violence."
The party for Williams troubled some legal experts, and Seana Willing, executive director of Texas' Commission on Judicial Conduct, said the incident may have violated requirements that judges remain impartial and observe proper decorum.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It WAS a tacky thing to do, brings the court into disrepute.
Are you an attorney? (not critical; just curious)
Sounds like something Judge Hatchett'd do.
"Until then, this man's recapture -- particularly in national domestic violence month -- sends the message that the law is against domestic violence."
That's nice. Here's some more in that vein:
"This cake sends the message that weddings and birthdays are now terror free. The party favors let everyone know that blowing the whistle on these horrible people is justice done. The shiny red balloons say to us all that they all float down here."
The arrogance and non-objectivism of these judges is frightening. How arrogant is it to believe that by their own personal actions they are sending the message that society will not tolerate domestic violence?
Our system of jurisprudence, with non-emotional, non-activist judges SENDS that message to the populace and is supposed to do so blindly. I wonder if she has one of those blindfolded "Justice" statues in her courtroom.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.