Tennessee Judges Often Judged in Secret - NewsChannel 5.com - N...

For over a year, an exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation has put the spotlight on judges who abuse their position.

[Tony Gottlieb]

I really like Judge Don Ash but based upon the sheer number and nature of the complaints just I receive, over the conduct of 8th Circuit Judge Carol Soloman, the Court of the Judiciary is doing a poor job.

How much longer can this really go on?

[Stacy Harris]

This investigation didn't go far enough.
It's always bugged me that local newspaper and TV news reports rarely mention the names of the presiding judges in the cases the news outlets cover.
Beyond that, as an example, Barbara Haynes' rulings are routinely overturned on appeal. The problem is that Haynes rulings (many of which are available online after they reach the appellate courts) do not not refer to Haynes by name.
Rather, the Court of Appeals will rebuke the judge of "the Third Circuit Court." If you don't know the judge by name, you can't cast a fully-informed vote when that judge is up for (re)election.

[Cross Post]

Sounds like Mr ash has an attitude problem and might have plenty to hide in his "private type things"....

[Farmer Wilson]

Bravo!!!

Great Investigative Reporting.

Now if we could just get you guys and gals to dig just as deep into the corruption that so pollutes the law enforcement in this state, educate he public, maybe we can start to change things!

[RESIDENT OF NASHVILLE]

WELL SURE THEIR PUNISHED IN SECRET BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PUNISHED AT ALL. THAT'S JUST THEIR WAY OF SAYING WE TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY REALLY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. THEY SLAPPED THEM ON THE HAND GIVE THEM A RAISE AND SAY DON'T DO IT AGAIN. SIMPLE AS THAT.

[COncerned American]

BS.. So full of BS. If you are in a public position or an elected official, you are the example, the role model. Either learn to be that or remove yourself from office. ALL positions should be under public scrutiny & overview. Plain & simple.

[Unknown]

Judge Ash should know that when you point your finger at others you have 3 pointing back at yourself. He himself should be reprimanded for all the plaques of himself hanging in his jury room. I know that this is against the law yet that does not seem to stop him from doing it!!!!

[Dave]

Great article, and we would be fools to think that this is only happening in Tennessee.. The system works like this nationwide. On a side note HALT recently changed the name of their organization to CLEAR and is moving to a new website www.clearlegal.org

[michelle]

great article keep looking into the matter lawyers and judges work together thats why things are the way it is in the metro courts judges who belive they are kings and do not have to follow the oath by which they have taken there should be term limit for the judge so we may be able to vote them out

[michelle]

a judge is an attorney who was appointed to be a judge all of them are attorneys so there is a no win situations when they are reported you are reporting then to their friends.those who judge the law but do not follow the laws and rules of the court but it is ok for them

[major jack]

The judicial system in Tennessee is corrupt! The supreme courts block and defend attorneys and judges in rural areas from allowing the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth from coming out in some courts to cover up for the cons and crooks in power positions.
They cover up history of criminals because they are nothing buit dope heads and drunks theirselves breaking the laws.
but this applies to what america has become! offices set up by states and federal are held by people that are low life scum liars and wouldn't know the truth if it hit them in the face.

They call good bad and bad good and use tactics to cover up what they truly are! low life dogs from the pits of hell. The board of responsibilities, The board of contractors, medical boards, judicial, appeals, governor, the people that answer the phones . The games people in power play with citizens in tennessee is not right. Hiring people in other countries to take care of americans business, senators . congress, reps getting rich off of americans making promises to jobs to other countries through businesses, banks, internet service, telephone taking jobs away from americans , They invest in businesses that hire in other countries for much lesser pay than americas minimum wage. taking jobs away from americans.
america now run by the best cons and criminals and giving to people that hate americans , making america fall to 3rd rate country. selling out to china , japan, middle eastern countries, this is done by people we elect to represent the people, we the people. AMERICA IS NOT RUN BY THE PEOPLE ANY MORE BUT RUN BY CONS AND CROOKS IN EVERY ASPECT IT WILL BRING AMERICA DOWN TO HER KNEES IN PAIN YEARS TO COME. WE MIGHT SEE WORLD WIDE GOV. AND PEACE THEN ALL HELL WILL BREAK OUT FOR GRANDCHILDREN YEARS TO COME.

[Joni Roberts]

The legislature clearly needs to amend the secrecy laws regarding judicial discipline and make the records available to the public. I filed a complaint against a judge in Shelby County, and I know of at least three other citizens who filed complaints against the same judge. The complaints were based on ex parte communications, violations of due process, failure to follow procedure, misuse of court appointees, and bias. We all received an identical form letter regarding a "private reprimand." The judge's behavior has not changed, and the citizens suffer the financial and emotional cost of the judicial misconduct.

[major jack]

Joni Roberts wrote:

The legislature clearly needs to amend the secrecy laws regarding judicial discipline and make the records available to the public. I filed a complaint against a judge in Shelby County, and I know of at least three other citizens who filed complaints against the same judge. The complaints were based on ex parte communications, violations of due process, failure to follow procedure, misuse of court appointees, and bias. We all received an identical form letter regarding a "private reprimand." The judge's behavior has not changed, and the citizens suffer the financial and emotional cost of the judicial misconduct.

The judicial system is not made by the people and laws made by courts to go by. It is made up of crooks, how does a crook judge another crook just like them. THEY DON'T AND WON'T. I have filed complaints and never got a foot in the door, but was treated less than a citizen of this country because of my complaints. When you file a complaint against a power office they all have each others back because they don't want to be exposed for what tyhey truly do in corruption and illegally. but white wash the truth over. propaganda and cover news of truth about this great nation and what goes on. All it takes is for a man or a woman that cannot be bought and will stand on truth and honesty against the odds , but the powerful pays off to remove the one from being heard for sure, I am still looking, where are the people that will stand against evil doers?

[max leverage]

What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 20?
"your honor"
What do you call a a lawyer who sucked in court and barely passed the bar?
district attorney
of course all the reprimand crap is secret,lawyers protecting lawyers,its all about money.ALL of it
wanna have fun? get recordings of what goes on in the chambers
wanna have more fun? watch a judge for a week,youd be surprised.At least the federal judges have more checks and balances
county judges run like the wild west,not all but most

[max leverage]

almost forgot,
you can check and see if a doctor or realtor was reprimanded but no, you have to go to putnam pit or some other site to see if a lawyer is good or a con artist
everything is "confidential" which is a bunch of crap.
ypu can see if a doc got sued for a bad ass implant but you cant check a lawyer,the PBR should have their records considered public record,after all the lawyers make YOUR case public record or charge you a fee to have it sealed
sorry i have to leave im ready to hurl.....

[Cassie]

max leverage wrote:

What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 20?
"your honor"
What do you call a a lawyer who sucked in court and barely passed the bar?
district attorney
of course all the reprimand crap is secret,lawyers protecting lawyers,its all about money.ALL of it
wanna have fun? get recordings of what goes on in the chambers
wanna have more fun? watch a judge for a week,youd be surprised.At least the federal judges have more checks and balances
county judges run like the wild west,not all but most

" What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 20?
"your honor "

They are called persecutors, err, I mean prosecutors first then, chosen to be DAs.

[wake up]

People, wether a judge is elected or, appointed, your tax dollars pay their salaries.

[JudgeHater]

Just not surprising here in TN, unfortunately!

[Rosine Ghawji]

It is time to expose what is exactly going on in the TCOJ. A long process of covering up corruption is the law in the deadly state of Tennessee
There is no accountability for judges especially in family court where predatory lawyers and corrupt judges are abusing families and especially children
Don Ash and his cronies are the keepers of the secrecy . They will one day answer to a higher judge .

The news medias expose only judges who have done nothing serious but never expose the real corrupt ones. the ones who broke the law , the ones who threaten children , destroy lives . Shame on you ........

[Jughead]

Stacy Harris wrote:

This investigation didn't go far enough.
It's always bugged me that local newspaper and TV news reports rarely mention the names of the presiding judges in the cases the news outlets cover.
Beyond that, as an example, Barbara Haynes' rulings are routinely overturned on appeal. The problem is that Haynes rulings (many of which are available online after they reach the appellate courts) do not not refer to Haynes by name.
Rather, the Court of Appeals will rebuke the judge of "the Third Circuit Court." If you don't know the judge by name, you can't cast a fully-informed vote when that judge is up for (re)election.

Not true. The opinions CLEARLY identify the trial court and the judge.

Liar.