Two Georgia judges and a county court administrator have been federally charged for operating multiple schemes to defraud taxpayers, including illegally paying employees with court fees, giving friends high-paying jobs and fixing cases.
A lengthy 19-count indictment charges a veteran Superior Court judge in rural Clinch County as well as a State Court judge in the same district with extortion, conspiracy to defraud the public of honest services and making false statements, among other things.
The judges, 28-year veteran Brooks Blitch and his friend Berrien Sutton, created unnecessary government jobs, allowed others to pocket money in exchange for access to them and ordered the collection of illegal fees in criminal cases years after the county commission voted to discontinue the fees.
Judge’ Sutton’s wife, a court clerk under Judge Blitch, was also charged. Prosecutors say the trio gathered more than $73,000 in illegal court fees and distributed the cash to county employees between 2001 and 2007. The money was stashed in a bank account that was kept secret from county budget officers and the payments were never taxed.
The indictment also mentions dozens of cases in which attorneys and friends of criminal defendants sought favors from Judge Blitch outside of court. In numerous instances Blitch granted them by terminating probation sentences, reducing sentences—including that of a convicted child molester—and ordering criminals’ early prison release without even notifying prosecutors.
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Judicial corruption, in Missouri
In Missouri, criminal defense attorneys solicit extra money from defendants, to be given to the judge, in order to get probation. Ten years ago, $12,000 for a 15 year possible jail sentence was standard. Naturally, when the defendant violates his probation, the judge wants his cut again, to keep him out of jail. On and on it goes.
The Missouri Supreme Court established and controls the Missouri Bar Association. So, there is no enforcement what so ever, as to attorney misconduct. Rather, the ones who don't work in the system are disbarred. The ones who "contribute," are given "AV" ratings. The ones that really contribute may even become judges. The appellate judges protect the circuit judges, and the supreme court judges protect them all.
Missouri attorneys representing appellate Respondents like to use the term "don't convict the circuit court judge" as a means to signal the appellate judges that they should protect the circuit court judge's decision.
When the appellate judges have really gone out on a limb to protect a circuit court judge, they will decide not to publish the opinion. Thus, hiding their corruption and making review by the supreme court much less likely while making review seem less necessary.
Missouri courts let select attorneys violate every, any and all Supreme court rules as to attorney code of ethics and ABA model rules.
The Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline simply changes the issues, to non-issues, so that it does not have to deal with judicial misconduct.
The Feds have tried to slow down the wide spread corruption by passing several statutes, but the Missouri Supreme Court and its ally, the MO BAR, have successfully resisted every attempt to reduce corruption.
Can Justice Watch help?
I'm just learning how
I'm just learning how justice is "for sale". After six years in the Georgia Courts, two days ago I found out the courts in Georgia have a commercial interest in the defendant. One of the judges, Wilbur Owens in the District Court of Middle Georgia, handed my trade secrets over to the defendants. The case was still being heard and was not allowed due process. I blog about the commercial ties here: http://facingthesharks.com/2008/08/20/a-well-connected-georgia-judicial-...
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