Bankruptcy

What Not to do as a Judge

By J. Michael McBride

On August 29, 2007 Public Defender Service attorney Liyah Brown had a criminal hearing before D.C. Superior Court Judge John Bayly, Jr. During the hearing the two entered into an argument about whether or not the Defendant was in deed "a homeless man". Bayly told Brown to "be quiet" and he would "call the case later" and if she continued she was "going to be in contempt in a minute." When Brown didn't comply with the Court's order, however, Bayly asked a U.S. marshal to "[s]tep her back, please. Step her back." Brown ended up handcuffed, searched, and held for 45 minutes with misdemeanor defendants.

On March 11, 2008 Bayly signed the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure's determination stating Bayly had violated the code of conduct and his actions were "grossly disproportionate". Because of Bayly's 18-year tenure on the bench the commission felt no further sanctions were necessary.

You can read the entire article at: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1206040363513

Chandra

Full post as published by Texas Lawyer Blog on March 27, 2008 (boomark / email).