Judges and Honor

“Here comes the Judge” was a famous weekly
phrase on the 1960’s comedy ‘Laugh In.’
 
Famous TV judges such as Judge Wapner,  Judge Judy, 
Judge Mathis, Judge Joe Brown,  Judge Mills Lane and
Hot Bench have been on the air for decades 
convincing the common to think they are legal eagles.
 
No one is above the law, and Judges sometimes forget
their power is not limitless.
What to do when a judge suffers
dementia or
breaks the law?
 
In addition to having a show called “When Pets Attack,”
I propose a show for tv called, “When Judges go to Jail.”
 
Judge Bart Fite -  domestic abuse.
Judge Mark Ciavarella – sending kids to jail for cash.
Judge Tim Nolan -  charged with six counts of human trafficking.
 
Judge Michael Cook –  guilty of heroin possession.
Judge Casey Moreland –  offered judicial favors in exchange for sex.
Judge Leticia Astacio – convicted of drunk driving.
 
Judge Timothy Dougherty -  accused of stealing $15k from court and
          $90k from a local volunteer fire company.
NY Supreme Court Justice Gerald Garson -  accepting bribes for divorce outcomes.
Judge Joe Brown -  five counts of contempt of court for getting verbally abusive
          during a child support case.
 
Judge Henry Baldwin  (1833) served on the court 11 years after being hospitalized
          for “incurable lunacy.”
Justice Robert Grier  (mid-1800’s)  could scarcely function due to mental decline
Justice Nathan Clifford  (1880)  was described as a “babbling idiot”
          and “practically vacant.”
 
We all have feet of clay.
So what gives the Judge Gumby’s
of the world the right to rule?
 
Judge Mill Lanes use to say,
“I am not final because I am right,
I am right because I am final.”
 
Someone has to be final,
even if
the final decision
is wrong,
bribed or
demented.