Law Humor

DUI Judge - Now The Juice Is REALLY Ticked Off

By John Mesirow

A few days ago, I had a post on Ohio Judge James Heath. He essentially walked after a DUI and a refusal. After having seen the YouTube video of his arrest below, now I am really incensed. Judge Heath repeatedly tried to used his position as a judge to weasel out of the arrest. It's truly nauseating. He was seen weaving and running a red light. He begs, and he begs, and he begs. Then he begs some more. He threatens the officer, saying it will ruin his (the officer's) career. And the officer even reminded the Judge that the incident is being taped!

The Juice does not think a judge should lose his job for a first-time DUI with no injuries, if the judge accepts responsibility for the crime. Judges make mistakes, like everyone else. But when a judge repeatedly, unequivocally tries to use his position to subvert the law, we've left "I made a mistake" and entered "this person can't be trusted with judicial power." Hopefully the judicial disciplinary process will work better than the criminal process did.

Full post as published by Legal Juice on February 19, 2009 (boomark / email).