Local Government TV

Friday, March 16, 2012

Why You Should Never Call a Senior Judge Senile

Fred Angle's tombstone, complete with dancing girls and $ signs
June 11, 2010 is the date Ron Angle lost his election to County Council. It's the price he pays for deciding to call a Northampton County jurist senile that day. It was stupid. But guess what? Ron was doing exactly what his outspoken Dad, whom I happened to know and like, would have done.

Angles are a rare breed. Fred, Ron's Dad, wanted his tombstone decorated with dancing girls and $ signs.

He also wanted his epitaph to read "17 new cars, 37 women." But Angle has had no time to inscribe those final words. Now, no matter what dispute he has, he's been pretty busy dealing with his very own personal judge, imported from the City of Brotherly Love. Senior Judge John L. Braxton, who has no love for brother Angle, waxs him up at every opportunity.

It's payback time, and there's something to be said for that. But it's not justice.

Braxton first ruled against Angle in a dispute over Fred's Will. A Will was offered by an estranged daughter-in-law who detested Ron's dad so much she refused to allow him to attend his own son's funeral. She hated the guy, but when she found out he was sick, she suddenly made the trip up from Florida.

She smelled money.

Braxton accepted her Will over the one that Ron's wife saw his Dad sign. Why? Because the Will offered by this stranger was prepared by an attorney.

Her attorney.

Braxton then ruled against Angle in a land dispute with a Bangor dentist who thought he could develop a golf course with land he bought from Angle, and for which he never paid. Somehow, Angle ended up owing him money, according to the judge.

$1.27 million.

In that case, Angle's original attorney went into corporate law. Braxton refused to give Angle a continuance so his new lawyers could familiarize themselves with the case. He refused to allow them to call several witnesses who were under subpoena. He ruled against Ron's wife, too, even though there was absolutely no evidence tying her to the case.

After awarding $1.27 million to the smiling dentist, Braxton refused to grant Angle a continuance on a motion for a new trial, which was scheduled to be heard right before the election. It made no difference that the other side agreed. Not only did Braxton insist on hearing the case, but he ruled against Angle the very day the motion was argued, resulting in even more bad publicity for Angle.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Judge Braxton has been a very active and ambitious Democrat in Philly. He's fallen short in races for Congress ('96) and Controller ('05, '09), but has been a good soldier. Angle, as most of you know, is an evil Republican.

Amazingly, Braxton continued to chase after Angle after he filed his appeal.

Because Hizzoner never bothered to enter judgment against Angle, the Superior Court actually had to ask Angle to do it himself. Yes, that's right. Angle was put in the awkward position of having to enter a $1.27 million judgment against himself.

Then, deputy sheriffs began knocking on Angle's door, claiming they were there to inventory his property for a Sheriff's Sale on a judgment that had never even been entered. He was hounded with three separate writs of execution, even after he timely posted the necessary bond.

Ron's attorney filed a motion to stop this nonsense, made the trip up from Philly for a scheduled hearing, but guess what? The judge never showed. He forgot. The case had to be rescheduled. When it was finally heard, the smiling dentist's attorney was no longer asking to execute. She only wanted to depose Angle. But Braxton decided that the execution could go forward.

Can you say bias?

The Superior Court has finally chimed in on this mess. On Wednesday, it stopped the execution and attempts to depose Angle. It also slammed Judge Braxton because, as it turns out, he hasn't bothered to file his own Opinion. "[T]he trial court is directed to immediately complete its opinion in this matter and certify and transmit the certified record in this matter (which was due to be filed in this Court on or before February 13, 2012) to this Court."

In an obvious sign that this higher court is unhappy with what it has seen, it has also fast-tracked the case.

Appellate courts only rarely reverse trial courts on findings of fact because they only have a cold record and never see the actual witnesses. But it does happen.

If it does, that will be justice.

In the meantime, even Ron's children are now stuck with Judge Braxton. Ron might be sufferng the consequences of his own intemperate remarks, but should his children?

The sins of the father are visited upon the sons, at least in Northampton County.

30 comments:

  1. What do you mean his children have to deal with the Judge?

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  2. Really, O'Hare? Ron Angle is accountable like everyone else. You may have an envy problem but the rest of know it for what it is, Justice.

    He should be thrown in jail for a phony Will.

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  3. RA deserves EVERY bit of inconvenience coming his way. Or better yet, what comes around goes around. Or, Karma is a bitch.

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  4. Just as when people who constantly call law enforcement complain about the cops in their lives, so too with Ron and courts and legal affairs. I like Ron and voted for him. There's something quite rich, however, about one of the 20% who occupy 80% of the courts' time being hoisted by his own petard. Ron's lived by the same sword he's now trying to pull from his chest. That the judge is a shithead is to be expected from any bench. Ron should know this from all his experience.

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  5. “Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.”

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  6. 7:07, Great quote.

    I know all the Angle haters will spew their venom here. But your pearl made it all worth it.

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  7. It's called Karma, Bernie...Reap and sow...

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  8. Write-in Angle for State Senate!

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  9. There is no Senate seat. The Repos screwed up thier own map. But they did dis-enfranchise many voters with the new ID law!

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  10. Many illegals who planned to vote several times for Ds have been disenfranchised. The dead in Philadelphia County may finally rest in peace.

    I rarely have trouble with judges because I avoid contact with them. Ron seems to have chosen the courtroom milieu frequently and is being treated to it's ill effects.

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  11. The voters who will be denied thier right to vote include: the elderly, veterans, the disabled, the poor, minorities. These people are R's and D's. Oh and it's gonna cost the taxpayers $12 million also.

    Thanks alot

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  12. i really like Ron but it was stupid, even if true, to call a judge who will set rulings for you, again stupid.
    Anyway I think Ron needed a rest from those county jerks he worked with.

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  13. Say what you will about Angle but what about his wife and two sons? Do they get justice ?

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  14. The elderly, veterans, the disabled, the poor, minorities are already required to show photo I.D.s in order to receive various services. Their votes are now being protected by keeping fraudulent voters from undermining the system. It's not $12 million, but the cost is well spent to protect the essence of our democracy. Charlie Dent just gave $2.5 million in an earmark to his donor friends at an Allentown battery company that took the cash, fired the workers and went out of business. Charlie can't say where the money went and nobody seems to care. Again, $12 million is chump change for something so important.

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  15. "Many illegals who planned to vote several times for Ds have been disenfranchised. The dead in Philadelphia County may finally rest in peace."

    Anonymous 10:09 AM seems to have made this comment from a time machine during the Prohibition era.

    Did you know a report by the New York University School of Law found NO cases of voter fraud in Pennsylvania. That's even lower than the 0.0002 percent found in New Jersey and the 0.000009 percent found in New York.

    Thank God we spent $12 million to alleviate that non-existent problem...

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  16. I never had a problem with Rons views only his big mouth.The same could be said of Rush L.His lack of respect/common sense will come back to haunt him without sympathy from his opponents.Is that justice ? Sure makes a case for civility.

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  17. Tell Angle what you think by emailing him at FarmerAngle.com.

    He writes and reads entries everyday.

    Bernie pretends like Angle is computer illiterate. That is all part of the show that has been
    Ron Angle for decades.

    When it comes to Ron Angle Karma has a back order on him that is fifty pages long.
    We reap what we sow and Angle is reaping the decades of deceit, lies and misery he has dished out in his ego driven quest. The courts have been his playground to stomp on people, so he can't really complain when the tiger turns on him.

    He never considered his own family in all of this, so my pity is limited.

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  18. this guy should be prez!!!

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  19. "Anonymous 10:09 AM seems to have made this comment from a time machine during the Prohibition era.

    Did you know a report by the New York University School of Law found NO cases of voter fraud in Pennsylvania. That's even lower than the 0.0002 percent found in New Jersey and the 0.000009 percent found in New York"

    True, that. In Philly and several other cities, it was voter intimidation by ACORN thugs with clubs and bats. It's not the fraud. It's the intimidation.

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  20. 3:09

    So you move the goal post when your case crumbles.

    Intimidation it would seem is
    NOT ALLOWING A VOTE TO BE CAST

    Why would we need ID to not cast a vote?

    So which is it Gov Corbett

    Voter Fraud

    Voter Intimidation

    check one please

    I'll give you time to consult FOXnews as they have a team

    "on the ground" fulltime for this,

    "solution looking for a problem"

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  21. Elect, I mean appoint, Angle Sheriff

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  22. For Ron Angle, Karma had to call in extra help.

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  23. Fraud or intimidation? Both. In Philly, Chicago, Baltimore and DC it was ACORN intimidation. In Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan it was fraud where more voted than were registered. Voting is at least as important as borrowing a library book or collecting food stamps, two of countless, routine acts where the requirement to show I.D. is de rigueur.

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  24. I hear Karma has a ten year back-order to fill on Ron Angle.

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  25. The Irish legal system would not do that, our system employs a system more subtle.
    Usually, where a sting associated with a crime can be orchestrated, it is done with the police, the media and the courts all working in unison. The miscreant will end up publicly humiliated facing fines or prison for a misdemeanor; public humiliation achieved. Recently we had such an effort take place in my home town; soliciting for prostitution the area of crime selected.
    Doesn't happen every day but when it does it's something to behold.
    Power abused through peevish bitch-craft can show us at our worst.

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  26. Ron Angle has made millions preying on the weak and vulnerable. Need to leave the area to find any pity.

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  27. Just another display of arrogance!

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You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.