Willis judge sentences honor student to jail for truency

[philip964]

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/05 ... g-support/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He wanted to make an example of this 17 year old girl who regularly misses three days of school a month. She is an A student in honors courses and holds down a full time and part time job to earn money to support her siblings.

To me if you live in Willis you vote for the other guy in November.

Here is the O so smart judge http://www.mctx.org/courts/justices_of_ ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chasfm11]

I'm so sick of this "zero tolerance" mentality. Make an example of a kid who isn't on the A honor roll. It is just another case of punishing the successful that won't follow the rules. Subservience, not success is the goal.

It is bad enough when the school administrators resort to this "junk". When our court system does, too, it is time for a new judge. If "the rules are the rules" is all that is required, we didn't need a judge in the first place - we needed a mafia enforcer.

[Heartland Patriot]

I'm so sick of this "zero tolerance" mentality. Make an example of a kid who isn't on the A honor roll. It is just another case of punishing the successful that won't follow the rules. Subservience, not success is the goal.

It is bad enough when the school administrators resort to this "junk". When our court system does, too, it is time for a new judge. If "the rules are the rules" is all that is required, we didn't need a judge in the first place - we needed a mafia enforcer.

Well put. I was thinking the same thing, why can't he "make an example" out of some dirtbag druggie? This was a REAL bad call, and I hope that this story being highlighted nationally lets that judge know it.

[philip964]

I'm so sick of this "zero tolerance" mentality. Make an example of a kid who isn't on the A honor roll. It is just another case of punishing the successful that won't follow the rules. Subservience, not success is the goal.

It is bad enough when the school administrators resort to this "junk". When our court system does, too, it is time for a new judge. If "the rules are the rules" is all that is required, we didn't need a judge in the first place - we needed a mafia enforcer.

Well put. I was thinking the same thing, why can't he "make an example" out of some dirtbag druggie? This was a REAL bad call, and I hope that this story being highlighted nationally lets that judge know it.

Through the internet the story has gone international. Since the story first came out, Stanford University has offered her a full scholarship, donations have come in from around the world to help her family.

[Charles L. Cotton]

In my view this "judge" is unfit to sit on the bench or hold a bar card. This girl works two jobs to help her mother support the family because her father left. That's why she had to miss those days.

She didn't go to jail truancy, that's a Class C Misdemeanor. The "judge" went to far as to hold her in contempt so he could put her in jail. Ch. 11 aired an interview with him and I was not impressed. He commented that he didn't want to appear soft, so I take it he's more concerned with his public image than justice. Remember, he could have found her guilty of truancy and fined her, but he chose to ignore the facts and hold a contempt hearing so he could put this kid in jail. Wow, having people like him on the bench sure makes me feel more secure, how about you? [/sarcasm]

Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, ages . . . and titles. I hope he's up for reelection.

Chas.

[RHenriksen]

WOW - that's fantastic!

Through the internet the story has gone international. Since the story first came out, Stanford University has offered her a full scholarship, donations have come in from around the world to help her family.

[i8godzilla]

I know it is semantics but she was not punished for truancy. The punishment was for contempt of court, the "judge" ordered her to attend and she did not follow the orders of the court. The "judge" in this case is an elected official that has not attended college or law school nor has he ever taken a bar exam. The citizens voted him in to office and the citizens can vote him out.

[i8godzilla]

I see Charles explained it better than I could...............

[57Coastie]

In my view this "judge" is unfit to sit on the bench or hold a bar card. This girl works two jobs to help her mother support the family because her father left. That's why she had to miss those days.

She didn't go to jail truancy, that's a Class C Misdemeanor. The "judge" went to far as to hold her in contempt so he could put her in jail. Ch. 11 aired an interview with him and I was not impressed. He commented that he didn't want to appear soft, so I take it he's more concerned with his public image than justice. Remember, he could have found her guilty of truancy and fined her, but he chose to ignore the facts and hold a contempt hearing so he could put this kid in jail. Wow, having people like him on the bench sure makes me feel more secure, how about you? [/sarcasm]

Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, ages . . . and titles. I hope he's up for reelection.

Chas.

Right on, Chas., as one might expect.

As I am sure you know, this "judge" (justice of the peace) has had problems before with the professional standards expected of judicial officers. Things like this cause international questions about the judicial process in Texas, sometimes extending to the election of our judges. Too bad riding some people out of town on a rail has fallen into disuse.

Jim

[philip964]

Michael Berry got on the judges case on the radio this morning. Apparently she has more college credits earned than the judge.

He asked the judge or any of his friends to call in and defend him. Didn't know if any did, but I bet not.

The only defense I see is: if he knew that by sentencing her to jail, she would finally get the financial help she needed.

How about he goes after the no account father.

[rev210]

Update to case.


http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 596613.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Heartland Patriot]

The only issue I have with what folks are saying on here is that it is NOT the DAD who ran out on the family, but the MOM who left them...the dad works a lot of hours from what I have gathered reading the stories on this one, so he isn't home very much...yes, I know that our society LOVES the stereotype of the "deadbeat dad", but there are some pretty lousy women out there, too...

[The Annoyed Man]

Reminds me of a story I saw yesterday about a girl who is a high school senior and an honors student who was kicked of of a school bus for standing up for a mentally handicapped little girl who was being bullied by all the other students. The senior girl tried to get the bus driver to handle it, and the driver refused to do anything about it. Then the other students, who were younger, reported the senior for "bullying" them, and she was banned from the disctrict's school buses.

Shameful.

[WildBill]

The only issue I have with what folks are saying on here is that it is NOT the DAD who ran out on the family, but the MOM who left them...the dad works a lot of hours from what I have gathered reading the stories on this one, so he isn't home very much...yes, I know that our society LOVES the stereotype of the "deadbeat dad", but there are some pretty lousy women out there, too...

Maybe that is why he cited the daughter rather than the parent.

[Oldgringo]

Actions such as this could happen anywhere, but for it to happen Texas, it is particularly egregious, IMO!

This unilateral and self-serving act makes all Texans look like insensitive and unlearned buffoons. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I don't need no help with, and can sometimes control, the 'lookin' bad' part, without the help of some local so-called "judge".

Good Grief, Charley Brown....get a rope!