Rules Change Protects Unethical Judges (Roy Moore)

Although it once was the case that individuals could file confidential complaints against judges with the (Alabama) Judicial Inquiry Commission, knowing that the judges would not see the complaints, that no longer is the case.

In October 2001, nine months after Roy Moore was installed as Alabama's chief justice, the Alabama Supreme Court under Moore's leadership changed the rules.

The JIC now is required to send all judicial complaints, including supporting documents, by certified mail to the judge whose conduct is being questioned. In addition to creating new paperwork and expense for the JIC, the rule change in some cases has made it practically impossible for lawyers or individuals to file complaints against unethical judges.

If the JIC took no action against the judge, or if the judge were censured but not removed from office, a complaining lawyer might still have to practice law before the judge. And the consequences of appearing before a grudge-bearing judge could be grave for a lawyer's other clients. The intimidation factor for lawyers is huge.

(snip)

This wasn't the only change Moore's court made to protect judges accused of unethical conduct. At the same time, the court made it more difficult for the Court of the Judiciary to remove a judge from office.

Under the old rules, a simple majority vote of the Court of the Judiciary could remove a judge from office.

Under the new rules, a judge can't be removed from office without a unanimous vote of the Court of the Judiciary.

So if even one member of the body takes a judge's side, he remains in office no matter how egregious his conduct.


http://www.postherald.com/witt.shtml

Judge Moore could find employment during his suspension burning some witches at stake or something.

or more appropriately, in pillaries, subject to public abuse and scorn.

When he set those rules up