Judicial Arrogance on State and Local Level

Justice Ronald Castille is angry. You see, he's the thief who penned the dishonest opinion that affirmed a payraise for judges only. A Pittsburgh law professor has correctly called that opinion a "transparent judicial swindle." Castille, who doesn't like the truth, is intimidating this lawyer by threatening to have him disciplined. "I have a reputation that I've earned and I'm not going to take it lying down when some liberal law professor goes around charging me and my court with criminal conduct." Hey Ron, would it be OK if a conservative law professor called you a crook? Talk about bias. This is unbridled judicial arrogance by "a petty tyrant."

Unfortunately, on a local level, we have more of the same from little gods who think their black robes give them superpowers. Berks Democrats has a perfect illustration.

Two weeks ago I met a woman battling her husband for custody in a nasty divorce fight. She began emailing me after reading my blog The Pennsylvania Progressive. I read some of her documentation about problems in the county family court system and began asking some questions. One of the things she told me was how she is trailed by security wherever she goes in the courthouse and services center.

Sure enough that's what happened. I've gotten familiar with some of the security people there from my frequent attendance at meetings. I asked the guards why they were following this woman and the answer was that it had been ordered. That was obvious but I needed a direct answer to the direct question. Tuesday I asked the manager of the SGI security team who ordered the security blanket on this diminutive woman and the answer was court administration. Again, what I expected. I then called court administration and asked them which judge ordered the security. They haven't replied but I already know the answer: Judge Scott Keller.

I also know why he ordered the suffocating security escort for this woman: she's representing herself (and doing it quite well from what I observed) and gets emotionally involved because Keller has taken her children from her and she's prevented from even seeing them. Divorce and custody cases are highly emotional and can get charged. At least they do when the parents truly care about their children. This woman happens to suffer from ADD, a fact which is in the case file. As a result she has a tendency to raise her voice, an occurrence she isn't cognizant of at the time. I witnessed this myself and she explained to me it was because of her Attention Deficit Disorder.

Well it seems that Judge Keller doesn't like it when a disabled person's disability disrupts his courtroom. He had this woman arrested for contempt and sent to jail because of her disability. That's a serious violation of her federal civil rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If I were sitting on a jury and heard this woman was sent to Berks County prison for contempt because she wasn't aware she'd raised her voice during an emotional court proceeding I'd be outraged. Well, I am anyway.

Judge Keller has exposed the County and it's taxpayers to some serious tort liability through his conduct. He has also greatly wronged this woman. He is up for retention in two years and, if he runs, we should vote against his retention. Rumors about the Judge are rampant and there is speculation his own divorce may result in his not seeking retention. Let's hope so. Meanwhile let's hope the County doesn't lose too much in this civil rights lawsuit.

Update: In additional to an editorial condemning Justice Castille today, the Morning Call today reports on "gifts" being given to judges who seeking seats on appellate benches. Most states ban these little perks. It's judicial arrogance.