If you have a complaint about the way a judge handled your case, you can turn to a group called the Court of the Judiciary to investigate. But for years, people like Ginger Franklin have complained the process is broken."It seems to me, to be a bunch of judges overseeing a bunch of judges. Is that the fox guarding the hen house?" Franklin says.
The Court of the Judiciary meets in secret. It rarely punishes judges - it has only suspended one judge in two years - and the cases drag on and on.
"A year and a half later, nothing is settled," Franklin says.
Franklin filed a complaint against Judge Randy Kennedy. He appointed a conservator to control her life after she tumbled down the stairs and had a brain injury. Franklin filed a complaint that Kennedy didn't appoint an attorney for her, like he was supposed to. Before she knew it, her conservator had sold off everything she owned. Her house was auctioned for $36,000."My townhouse was emptied. My bank accounts were cleared out. My car was gone. I was liquidated," Franklin says. "And he signed off on everything that was done."
The Court of the Judiciary received 703 complaints against judges over a two-year period. Only one of the judges was suspended. Nine received public reprimands.
Over the past year, legislators like Sen. Mae Beavers have worked to overhaul the system.
"Judges are elected officials. And if there's a problem, I think the public needs to know it," Beavers said in September.
The Senate reforms are designed to make it easier for people filing complaints. It also changes the makeup of the board; and for the first time, the board's rulings are more transparent. They have to make monthly and quarterly reports to the legislature. The bill now goes to the House.
Source: (Note: This article is reprinted in its entirety)
Panel to Judge Judges Gets Overhaul
3 comments:
What was the quid pro quo for Kennedy?
The legal system is self policing. A big mistake.
Transparency is the key. And public outrage.
Don't forget, Ginger Franklin is not Kennedy's only failure. Danny Tate lost everything thanks to Kennedy looking the other way as Tate's estate was dissipated.
and how many others? is anyone looking or counting? it doesn't take much more to show there is a pattern here that needs scrutiny with intent to audit all case files if anybody thinks conservatorships are warm and fuzzy with wonderful people caring for their wards needs and best interest they are mistaken this is about how much money each ward generates for the protection industry big money with income going directly to the conservator who has many cases add it up do the math
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