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.