Second Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Resigns In Porn Email Scandal

FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2015, file photo, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin arrives at the Northampton County courthouse in Easton, Pa. for a hearing about whether he should be suspended while a judicial ethics court decides if his email practices warrant discipline. 

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

[From article]
A second Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice quit the bench Tuesday in a widening scandal over raunchy and otherwise offensive emails that he and others exchanged with friends and lawyers.
Justice Michael Eakin's decision to retire marks the latest fallout since embattled state Attorney General Kathleen Kane began releasing hundreds of emails in 2014 to the media and ethics agencies. Kane has since been indicted on perjury and other charges that she claims were trumped up because she took on the old boys' club of Pennsylvania's judiciary and law enforcement.
Eakin's lawyer, Bill Costopoulos, said at a news conference that an ethics trial on charges related to the emails, which had been scheduled to start in two weeks, would not proceed. He said Eakin would agree to the allegations, leaving "nothing left to try."
"This is the only process I know of in America where you can be charged with sending emails to friends that were inappropriate and face the death penalty," Costopoulos said. "I just don't think that's right."
Justice Seamus McCaffery, a Democrat, abruptly retired in 2014 after being suspended by the court for his role in swapping the emails.
The board that investigates accusations of judicial misconduct has said that Eakin sent or responded to emails that included a satirical video about a busload of "sluts" crashing, a joke about a woman told to keep "her mouth shut," and a joke about Tiger Woods that referred to his African-American and Asian background.
The email scandal, centered on the attorney general's office, has already led to dozens of people being disciplined or losing their jobs.
Eakin, 67, a Republican, has been on the state Supreme Court since 2002.
During tearful testimony in December, Eakin apologized for what he said he "allowed to happen," but he accused the news media of sensationalism and argued his job performance hadn't been affected.
"Perhaps my demeanor is one of the boys," Eakin said. "But what I sent was to people who were also one of the boys. It was in the locker room. I allowed, I created something that could be released."
The state constitution says judges lose their pensions if they act in a way that "brings the judicial office into disrepute," one of the allegations against Eakin. Costopoulos said he hoped that would not occur but it was not certain.
[. . .]
When Kane, a Democrat, turned over the new trove of emails in September, it was barely a week after Eakin voted with four other justices to suspend her law license.
[. . .]
Kane's license was suspended after prosecutors in suburban Philadelphia charged her with perjury and other offenses for allegedly leaking secret grand jury material and lying about it.
[. . .]
The exchange of explicit and pornographic emails by state prosecutors was uncovered as part of Kane's internal review of how the office handled the investigation into Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach now serving a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child sexual abuse.
[. . .]
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf issued a statement calling the case "another reminder of why we must all work with urgency to restore the public's trust in their government as well as the integrity of the judicial system."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/16/second-pennsylvania-supreme-court-justice-resigns-over-pornographic-email-scandal.html?intcmp=ob_article_sidebar_video&intcmp=obinsite

Second Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice resigns over pornographic email scandal
Published March 16, 2016

Associated Press

New York City Detectives Question Lack of Autopsy of Justice Scalia in Texas

US Marshals Bypassed The Medical Examiner To Declare a Non Suspicious Death of the Supreme Court Justice Scalia 

Could this case be a motive for the remarkable determination, contrary to law, by a US Marshal, that Scalia's death was not suspicious (See Washington Post), and thus did not require an autopsy? Texas law provides for a medical examiner to make the determination, and few marshals are trained as MEs. See also,
Detectives question lack of autopsy in Scalia death
By Jamie Schram and Bob Fredericks
New York Post
February 15, 2016 | 11:07pm
Then again since Justice Scalia was an unimportant man, his death did not create any benefit to anyone. And in any case the current administration is so strictly lawful that it is irrational to even think such a thought. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. This way. To your left.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/2/17/scalia-affirmative-action-harvard/

Scalia’s Death Could Affect Affirmative Action Lawsuits
By AIDAN F. LANGSTON

Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
February 17, 2016

Alabama Chief Judge of State Courts Orders End To Same Sex Marriages

Alabama State Court Chief Justice Roy Moore

[From article]
Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an order today saying that a ruling issued last March by the Alabama Supreme Court remains in effect and that probate judges "have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary" to Alabama's law and constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
In a four-page administrative order, Moore said the conflict between the state court ruling and the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June has caused "confusion and uncertainty" among probate judges.
Moore said he issued the order today in his role as administrative head of the state court system. He quoted a state law that says the chief justice is empowered to "take affirmative and appropriate action to correct or alleviate any condition or situation adversely affecting the administration of justice within the state."
[. . .]
Moore, in his order today, says the Alabama Supreme Court continues to deliberate on how the U.S. Supreme Court ruling affects the state court's orders from March.
Moore said rulings by federal courts since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling could affect the issue in Alabama.
Moore said the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court case invalidated only the same-sex marriage bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
And he said the U.S. District Court in Kansas found that although the U.S. Supreme Court ruling "is clearly controlling Supreme Court precedent, it did not directly strike down the provisions of the Kansas Constitution and statutes that bar the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses."

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/01/roy_moore_says_probate_judges.html

Roy Moore says probate judges have duty to enforce same-sex marriage ban
By Mike Cason | mcason (at) al.com
on January 06, 2016 at 12:09 PM, updated January 06, 2016 at 7:00 PM

Florida Judge Encounters Childhood Playmate As Defendant In Her Courtroom

Is that you? Burglary suspect Arthur Booth suddenly realizes he was childhood playmates with the judge.

[From article]
An unexpected class reunion occurred inside the unlikeliest of places - a criminal courtroom.
Miami, Florida judge, Mindy Glazer, was presiding over the case of a man arrested for burglary and theft on Thursday.
But she suddenly realized she had seen the man before - years ago in middle school.
The judge and the suspect had once been playmates at Nautilus Middle School, reports Local10.
Asking the suspect standing before her if he had attended the same middle school she did, the man instantly perked up and seemed to recognize the judge.
The suspect breaks into a huge smile when he spots his old pal.
But then remembering the embarrassing circumstances of their reunion, he immediately breaks down and repeatedly wails, 'Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness!'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3148082/Tearful-reunion-Burglary-suspect-emotional-breakdown-realizes-judge-presiding-case-middle-school-pal.html



Burglary suspect has breakdown when he realizes judge presiding over his case was his middle school playmate
Burglary suspect Arthur Booth was stunned to realize he knew the judge from childhood
Judge Mindy Glazer was first to recognize her old pal
They went to middle school together and played football together
'He was the nicest kid ... look what happened' said judge
Suspect can't stop crying and buries his head in shame
By KIRI BLAKELEY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 00:11 EST, 3 July 2015 | UPDATED: 10:43 EST, 3 July 2015

Judge Sentences Alabama Woman To 219 Years For Incest Ring

[From article]
A judge sentenced an Alabama woman to 219 years in prison Thursday for her role in an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children for years.
Wendy Holland, 35, showed no emotion as the judge condemned her to what amounts to a life sentence. She must serve at least 50 years in prison before parole consideration, a prosecutor said.
Jurors convicted the woman of sodomy, sexual abuse and other charges last month.
Another defendant, William Brownlee, got a 20-year prison sentence. Brownlee, 50, was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse in the fall.
The two were among 11 people charged with sex crimes following the disappearance in 2012 of a suspected victim of the ring, 19-year-old Brittney Wood. She remains missing and is presumed dead.
[. . .]
In the letter read in court, the underage teen abused by both Holland, a relative, and Brownlee, a family friend, compared her youth to being lost in a maze.
The teen said she felt like she was constantly looking into shadows around corners in fear of more sexual torture.
“The people who were supposed to protect me were the ones hurting me,” she wrote in the letter.

http://nypost.com/2015/01/15/woman-gets-219-years-in-prison-for-incestuous-sex-ring/

Woman gets 219 years in prison for incestuous sex ring
By Associated Press
New York Post
January 15, 2015 | 1:43pm

Ohio Court Judge Avoids Jail During Appeal

Suspended juvenile court Judge Tracie Hunter
(Photo: Enquirer file/Liz Dufour)

[From article]
Singleton filed an emergency request asking the court to postpone or suspend her jail sentence. A Hamilton County judge and the First District Court of Appeals already denied the request.
Earlier this month, Hunter was sentenced to spend six months in jail after being convicted of having an unlawful interest in a public contract.
Singleton said the Ohio Supreme Court's decision sets the appeals process in motion. He said the conviction appeal could take one year to be complete and legal briefs could be due in the spring.
Three jurors have recanted their guilty verdict since the trial, which Hunter supporters have used as fuel to question the process used to convict her.
[. . .]
Just before the early December sentencing hearing, Croswell and fellow Special Prosecutor Merlyn Shiverdecker wrote to Judge Norbert Nadel that "If Tracie Hunter does not receive sufficient punishment, it will only confirm to the community what Tracie Hunter believes; she is above the law and for whatever reason, is allowed to play by a different set of rules than the rest of us."
[. . .]
Hunter, 48, was convicted in October of interfering with the firing of her brother, juvenile court worker Stephen Hunter, after he punched a teen inmate in the face. She was convicted for using her position as a judge to obtain documents regarding the medical and mental history of the teen inmate punched in the face by her brother. He later used those documents, which are supposed to be protected by privacy laws, to try to save his job.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/26/supreme-court-rules-tracie-hunter/20918031/

Ohio Supreme Court: Tracie Hunter can avoid jail for now
Bowdeya Tweh, btweh (at) enquirer.com
10:24 a.m. EST December 27, 2014

NY Judge Frees Man Who Posted Image of Threat to NYPD

OH Judge Scrutinized After Death Of Released Juvenile

Ohio Judge Tracie Hunter

[From article]
Hamilton County's prosecutor says a suspended juvenile court judge's decisions led to the deaths of two people.
[. . .]
Hunter, a Democrat who took the bench after a lengthy legal battle over disputed election results, has said she is being targeted for political reasons.
The Ohio Supreme Court disqualified her in January from acting as a judge after an indictment alleged that she backdated court records and misused a county credit card, among other allegations.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/prosecutor-suspended-judges-decisions-led-to-deaths/27872300#!bQntan

Prosecutor: Suspended judge's decisions led to deaths
Deters says Hunter let eventual killer stay out of custody
UPDATED 5:55 PM EDT Sep 04, 2014

MI Judge Partied With Woman Litigant Appearing Before Him, Cannot Be Sued

Shielded: A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court's ruling that disgraced judge Wade McCree cannot be sued by a defendant in a child support case he presided over

[From article]

The married McCree had a sexual relationship with Geniene La’Shay Mott while presiding over a 2012 child support case between her and King.
Some of the trysts took place in McCree’s chambers.
[. . .] According to the Detroit Free Press, McCree sexted Mott from the bench and gave her thousands of dollars.
Courts have long prevented judges being sued by litigants for their decisions, but King's attorney Joel Sklar says McCree used his judicial immunity 'as a shield for self interest.'

[. . .]

Michigan’s Supreme Court in March ordered McCree removed from office and suspended him for six more years if he’s re-elected in November.
The Detroit Free Press reports that McCree's father, Wade Hampton McCree, Jr was the first black person appointed to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appleals and the second black solicitor general in the U.S.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2707918/Judge-affair-mans-ex-wife-overseeing-child-support-case-sued-rules-court.html

Judge who had affair with man's ex-wife while overseeing his child support case cannot be sued, rules court
Judge Wade McCree cannot be sued by the defendant of a child support case he presided over
McCree had an affair with the ex-wife of the defendant while the case was before his court
He sexted Geniene La'Shay Mott from the bench, had trysts with her in his chambers and gave her thousands of dollars
He ordered Robert King be tethered and forced to pay child support
There is a longstanding doctrine that judges cannot be sued for their decisions in court
A judge upheld a lower court's ruling to this effect, but also said McCree's actions were 'often reprehensible'
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Daily Mail (UK)
PUBLISHED: 20:06 EST, 27 July 2014 | UPDATED: 00:13 EST, 28 July 2014

FL Judge Threatens, Punches Attorney

[From article]
Judge John Murphy is accused of punching veteran public defender Andrew Weinstock after the two had words during court in which Murphy allegedly pressured Weinstock to get his client to waive his right to a speedy trial.
"You know, if I had a rock I would throw it at you right now," Murphy tells Weinstock. "Stop pissing me off. Just sit down."
"You know I'm the public defender. I have a right to be here and I have a right to stand and represent my client," Weinstock said in the video.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/brevard-judge-accused-punching-public-defender/ngCGC/

Posted: 6:39 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Brevard judge tells attorney, 'I'll beat your ass,' allegedly throws punches

WFTV

WVA Judge Charged With Trying To Frame Husband of His Secretary-Mistress

Michael Thornsbury is shown in this 2009 photo from the Williamson Daily News. Thornsbury was indicted by federal prosecutors on Wednesday and turned himself in on Thursday.

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201308150046

August 15, 2013
Mingo County judge arrested on federal charge
By Kate White

MA State Court Judge Issues Misguided Ruling

MA Secretary of State William Galvin

[From article]
Galvin argued that the lobbying law requires lobbyists to report their "direct business associations" with public officials.
Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders rejected his interpretation. "To put it bluntly, this argument makes absolutely no sense," she wrote. Galvin's case was based on a "mangled use of the English language," she said.

What part of "direct business associations" does this judge not understand? It is curious at best that the Harvard Law School educated judge supports less openness when more scrutiny is needed in the corrupt halls of Massachusetts government. One more example of the courts having gone over the side to the criminals who exploit taxpayers.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2013/08/mass_secretary_of_state_faulted_by_judge

Mass. Secretary of State faulted by judge
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Boston Herald
By: Associated Press

Judge Scancarella Appointed State Commission

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Retired_Passaic_County_judge_named_to_SCI_commission.html

Retired Passaic County judge named to SCI commission
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2012, 12:39 PM
BY  KIM LUEDDEKE
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

Drug Dealer's Sister, Secretary To State Court Judge Arrested

Is there any wonder why there is so little respect for the government in Massachusetts? Politicians attack women, illegal immigrants killing civilians, and protected by the Governor, Judge's secretary hiding funds for drug dealers, and lots more. Yet police in Cambridge continue to conduct 24/7 surveillance, harassment, provocations, character assassination and threats of a 69-year-old white man who they say has a disability. The FBI, well aware of this multi year criminal abuse stands by and watches. The Mass Attorney General agrees to read a letter to a state agency, and the District Attorney is too busy for matters less than homicide. Hehe.

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061145035&position=1

Feds bust 20 in multistate drug ring
Boston Herald
By Matt Stout
Wednesday, July 11, 2012

* * *

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061144882&position=0

Cops: Drug kingpin’s sis stashed diamonds, cash
Boston Herald
By Matt Stout and Laurel J. Sweet
Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Man Shoots Deputy Stabs Judge in Courthouse

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-10/washington-courthouse-shooting-arrest/53467288/1

Suspect arrested in Wash. courthouse attack
AP
USA Today
March 10, 2012

Ga. judge orders president to appear

http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/01/25/obama-ignore-order-atlanta-court/

Obama to Ignore Order to Appear in Atlanta Court
WhiteHouseDossier.com
by Keith Koffler
January 25, 2012, 11:34 pm

* * *

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/16567672/ga-judge-orders-president-to-appear-at-hearing

Ga. judge orders president to appear at hearing
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 6:41 PM EST Updated: Jan 22, 2012 6:41 PM EST
Posted by Cal Callaway
CBS News Atlanta GA

Judge Sends Black Defendant to Mental Hospital After Repeated Claims of Racism

The judge sent this defendant for a psychiatric evaluation. What took him so long? Many black people and their useful idiot supporters blame every bad event they experience on racism. A black Cambridge MA, city councilor admitted that black people are paranoid. Why have fake accusations of racism been allowed to silence white people for so many years due to mental illness of so many black people?

[From article]
"Judge Timothy Creany took the drastic step Thursday as Erik Britt, 27, facing charges of assaulting a prison guard, repeatedly interrupted proceedings by accusing deputies of racism.
[. . .]
After removing the jury from the court several times while Creany tried to calm Britt down, a deputy wrapped "heavy, red tape across Britt's mouth and around his head" to silence him,"

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/judge_orders_suspect_mouth_taped_j6VnhwZtPq8eyuLaoS20UM

Judge orders suspect's mouth taped shut in Penn. court
NEWSCORE
New York Post
Last Updated: 10:08 AM, January 6, 2012
Posted: 10:04 AM, January 6, 2012

PA Judge Sentenced to 28 Years

[From article]
"“Between their arrogance of being a judge and the fact they came from Luzerne County, their chance of getting caught was less than zero,” he said. “If there was not a federal investigation, you never would have seen a prosecution. They would have done this the next 15 years.”

click image to enlarge

Former Judge Mark Ciavarella, seen with his wife, Cindy, was sentenced to 28 years in prison after conviction on corruption charges.

PETE G. WILCOX file photo/THE TIMES LEADER

http://www.timesleader.com/news/A_stumble_cost_Ciavarella_his_world_08-14-2011.html

Posted: August 14, 2011
Updated: Today at 2:50 AM
A stumble cost Ciavarella his world
The former judge’s acceptance of a ‘finder’s fee’ proved a key element in his successful prosecution.
By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan (at) timesleader.com

NY State Court Judge Corruption

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/judge_in_double_trouble_5VEDmPzxod0DRzu4kjLNSK

Judge in 'double' trouble
By MELISSA KLEIN
New York Post
Last Updated: 7:06 AM, April 17, 2011
Posted: 3:18 AM, April 17, 2011

WI Court Hearing Unrecorded in Teachers Union Case

http://maciverinstitute.com/2011/04/secrecy-shrouds-teachers-union-court-hearing/

Secrecy Shrouds Teachers’ Union Court Hearing
MacIver News Service
April 19, 2011