Musings about judges and fear
Short note today. I'm supposed to start a trial, which is probably going to go badly, so after I get this done I'll don my Charge of the Light Brigade suit and head over to court.
Several months ago I mentioned a story out of Albany, NY, where a judge was sanctioned for doffing his robe and glasses, rushing up to a criminal defendant, and demanding, "You want a piece of me?" Turns out that the defendant was so horrified by the experience that he's developed "an acute fear of judges and a mistrust of officers of the court," or at least so he says in the $2 million lawsuit he's filed against the judge. I've got a fear of some judges, which doesn't quite rise to the acute level, but I gotta figure that's worth at least a couple grand.
And hopefully I won't have to use the money to pay off the camera ticket I got for driving 37 in a 35 zone over on Clifton Blvd. last August, if the Supreme Court decides the cameras violate the home-rule provisions of the Ohio Constitution. Sue Altmeyer over at the Cleveland Law Library blog has links to the appropriate stories and documents here.
And speaking of judges, even if your name isn't Corrigan or McMonagle, you may have a better shot at striking acute fear into defendants. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has decided to adopt a new policy with regard to judicial appointments, relying on candidates selected by a judicial panel. There'll be a seat coming up in Common Pleas Court in the next couple of weeks, as Judge Mary Jane Boyle moves over to the Court of Appeals. If you want to toss your hat into the ring, here's the procedure for submitting your application.
Finally, if you're squeezed out for the judgeship, you can always console yourself by being commissioned as an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. No, I'm not making that up; here's the application form, as posted on the Nebraska government's web site. (You'll note that the website is pretty folksy; the biographical information concerning Nebraska Governor David ("call me Dave") Heineman can be accessed by clicking the tab labeled, "About Dave.") If you're awarded the commission, it'll look like this. Reportedly, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has one, although exactly what he has done to "contribute in some way to the state" or "promote the Good Life in Nebraska" isn't specified.
On the negative side, I don't think the commission will do much to inspire acute fear in anyone.
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