A US judge has been removed from the bench for jailing 46 people after none would admit to having a mobile phone that began ringing during his court session
Aaah... yes, destroy the "evil" Teddy Bears! This, from our friends of the GREAT religion of PEACE...ISLAM! What a bunch of jack-offs! Picking on poor defenceless Teddy Bears... They killed TEDDY! Grrrr! You ASSHOLES!
As far as the judge goes, well, he deserved it. Hell, that's what Baliff's are for, they are the ones you send in to check those folks out. He could have just had everyone searched and simply fined EVERYONE who had a cell phone. Ha ha ha! Na, then someone would have bitched. What he really should have done was to close the proceedings to outside observers and then if it still rang, well... it would be much easier to figure out who was responsible.
Hard to blame him in a way. Some of these newer ringtones are just plain fucking awful. Besides, as far as abuse of power goes, it's no where near as bad as that other judge in the US who's suing those drycleaners for about $65 million for staining a pair of pants.
This is a travesty. This was NOT an abuse of power. It was a judge dealing with contempt of court. Removing him from the bench severely undermines the authority of the bench.
This judge set a powerful precedent and is not alone in taking offence to a cell phone ringing. The damn things have a silent vibrate setting for those hockey pucks who cannot bear to be out of reach.
Only one person's phone went off. Maybe the people directly around that person could have pointed the person out, but the rest would have been as clueless as the judge. He jailed people who did nothing wrong and could not have done anything different.
The person whose phone went off and didn't say anything was possibly in contempt, but the rest were innocent. This was abuse of power.
Still, it sucks, if you are the one not able to pay $ 1500.-, and got locked up for something you have had no part in, or if you DON'T WANT to pay $ 1500.- for something you know nothing about.
All he should have done, is get all the cellphones conviscated.
It was just too much.
On the other hand, cell phones should be turned off in public places like courthouses etc.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/wo ... 66415.html
As far as the judge goes, well, he deserved it. Hell, that's what Baliff's are for, they are the ones you send in to check those folks out. He could have just had everyone searched and simply fined EVERYONE who had a cell phone. Ha ha ha! Na, then someone would have bitched. What he really should have done was to close the proceedings to outside observers and then if it still rang, well... it would be much easier to figure out who was responsible.
This judge set a powerful precedent and is not alone in taking offence to a cell phone ringing. The damn things have a silent vibrate setting for those hockey pucks who cannot bear to be out of reach.
The person whose phone went off and didn't say anything was possibly in contempt, but the rest were innocent. This was abuse of power.
Who knows what kind of damage to their case and lives caused.
If you are in a position of power and your personal life is greatly affecting your job preformance to this degree then seek help.
I shall give you advise as a father unto a son....
"Don't ever argue with a man in a black dress."
This judge was following a venerable precedent.
When it is known that 1 individual has offended, and that individual doesn't step forward, and he is not exposed by the rest----they all get it.
It's called company punishment.
It works because the culprit is known to the group(or a critical mass thereof) and they will exact satisfaction for their collective misery.
It works.
All he should have done, is get all the cellphones conviscated.
It was just too much.
On the other hand, cell phones should be turned off in public places like courthouses etc.
people have lives, they don't have the time to go to jail and get booked and post bail just 'cause some Judge had a bad day