After a two year investigation of judicial patronage by a Commission established by Chief Judge Judith Kaye of the New York Court of Appeals - the highest state court in New York - the Commission issued its Report in December, 2001.
What is rather unusual about the Report is that it officially acknowledged, admitted and published, that many court appointments were based on cronyism, politics and nepotism; that judges were awarding lucrative fees to lawyers appointed as guardians and receivers from other peoples' money put under control of the court and entrusted to the lawyers and that judges and lawyers were flaunting existing rules governing guardians and receivers.
The names of these judges and lawyers with the exception of the Brooklyn lawyers, whose brazen letter prompted the investigation, have not been published and are kept "confidential" by the Commission.
Although, the Report was compiled and published in the State of New York, the wrongful practices described in the Report are very much prevalent in the courts of numerous other states of the nation.
The Report offers a rare inside view of how the judges return favors and interact with well connected lawyers by rewarding them with coveted appointments of what is known in legal jargon as "fiduciaries".
The Report covers fiduciaries appointed by the court, as guardians for incapacitated persons, the elderly, the feeble who are the most vulnerable and the least able to help themselves; as guardians ad litem for children involved in litigation; and as receivers for properties such as in foreclosures or where it is alleged that the property maybe materially injured or destroyed.
The fiduciary appointees are usually private attorneys. Unless the incapacitated person is an indigent, the fiduciaries are usually paid from the assets of the incompetent or of the litigant in the action. The fiduciary generally takes full control over someone’s assets and/or property.
The Report describes numerous instances of how these assets were turned into a lucrative source of funds for lawyers, with the least amount of work and effort.
Full Article and Source:
Patronage - A Feast For Lawyers
Website:
Citizens For Judicial Accountability - Seeking Reform in the Legal System
What is rather unusual about the Report is that it officially acknowledged, admitted and published, that many court appointments were based on cronyism, politics and nepotism; that judges were awarding lucrative fees to lawyers appointed as guardians and receivers from other peoples' money put under control of the court and entrusted to the lawyers and that judges and lawyers were flaunting existing rules governing guardians and receivers.
The names of these judges and lawyers with the exception of the Brooklyn lawyers, whose brazen letter prompted the investigation, have not been published and are kept "confidential" by the Commission.
Although, the Report was compiled and published in the State of New York, the wrongful practices described in the Report are very much prevalent in the courts of numerous other states of the nation.
The Report offers a rare inside view of how the judges return favors and interact with well connected lawyers by rewarding them with coveted appointments of what is known in legal jargon as "fiduciaries".
The Report covers fiduciaries appointed by the court, as guardians for incapacitated persons, the elderly, the feeble who are the most vulnerable and the least able to help themselves; as guardians ad litem for children involved in litigation; and as receivers for properties such as in foreclosures or where it is alleged that the property maybe materially injured or destroyed.
The fiduciary appointees are usually private attorneys. Unless the incapacitated person is an indigent, the fiduciaries are usually paid from the assets of the incompetent or of the litigant in the action. The fiduciary generally takes full control over someone’s assets and/or property.
The Report describes numerous instances of how these assets were turned into a lucrative source of funds for lawyers, with the least amount of work and effort.
Full Article and Source:
Patronage - A Feast For Lawyers
Website:
Citizens For Judicial Accountability - Seeking Reform in the Legal System
WOW! Thank you! for posting this information.
ReplyDeleteThe truth about people churned into products, wards/hosts, to generate $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for the blood sucking probate loop for no work is coming out!
Yes, this is great information and in plain English: the truth.
ReplyDeleteA feast describes it perfectly!
ReplyDeletecourt appointments were based on cronyism, politics and nepotism; that judges were awarding lucrative fees to lawyers appointed as guardians and receivers from other peoples' money put under control of the court and entrusted to the lawyers and that judges and lawyers were flaunting existing rules governing guardians and receivers.
ReplyDeleteThis has become a National Epidemic as the world becomes smaller with the internet; seminars, etc. The word is OUT, Probate Judges and their cronyism, politics and nepotism have utilized the UNMONITORED Probate Court with broad discretionary powers to ABUSE the elderly and the disabled who have moderate to large estates for their OWN financial gains. Once the money is gone, they turn over the bills for the taxpayer. This is FRAUD on the Government. It is happening in my State as well: CT only more egregiously, these theives have slipped their scam into Family courts to steall the kiddies college and inheritance funds. Sick! The Judicial Review Board is a good old boy network to protect their own. Only 1% of complaints actually don't get THROWN out. The review process is sealed from Public scrutiny and who knows what the sanction is? Slap on the wrist? The Judge has to buy lunch for the Committee? And in CT, the State of RETALIATIONS, the complaintants frind their lives being turned upside down with false police arrests, Housing Inspects show up, fines are given while your next door neighbor's roof has a hole in,they site you for a crack in the concrete step! Insurance get suddenly cancelled. CT is the most CORRUPT state in the Union. Senator Dodd and his questionable mortages on his HOMES have NOT been investigated yet and HE has the check book writing bridge loans to his pals in the automarker industry...it's give these CEO's, board members and other highly compensated execs to bump up stocks and BAIL leaving the taxpayer holding the Tab.