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In Georgia, the Chief Judge of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit is being prosecuted for some incredible abuses of power.
Chief Superior Court Judge Amanda F. Williams was charged late Wednesday with "willful misconduct in office" and "tyrannical partiality."
Williams was charged in a 31-page "notice" with 12 counts alleging that Williams violated judicial canons by jailing defendants indefinitely and then lying to cover up her practice to the oversight commission about the practice.
The oversight commission's notice also accused Williams of improperly allowing members of her family to litigate cases in front of her, allowing her social and political relationships to influence her judicial conduct, and improperly endorsing a local candidate for district attorney.
The charges claim Williams issued ex parte orders on substantive legal matters without the knowledge or input of all parties involved in disputes, held hearings in chambers without a court reporter present, improperly jailed people who appeared before her, demonstrated an open bias against defendants and used "rude, abusive and insulting language" in court.
Sanctions—which would be handed down by the Georgia Supreme Court based on the recommendation of the judicial commission panel could range from a public reprimand to removal from the bench.
The breaking story can be found at
http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Editorial/News/singleEdit.asp?l=101319912111
[the DailyReportOnLine.com for Nov 11, 2011 & the Staff Reporter at DailyReportOnLine.com is R. Robin McDonald would can be reached at rmcdonald@alm.com]
Blogger Bob's comment: The article and case is worthy of a read and follow-up; as to the incarceration orders, where were the public defenders? As to the civil abuses, where are the legal aide folks? Endorsing a District Attorney in a race---mmh, that does not happen here when judges in San Bernardino County attend fund raisers for an incumbent? Does it?
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