Friday, March 14, 2008

Strip Search and You...

This information comes to us from Doug Garner of Zerbe, Zerbe & Garner, LLP. We provided it to you for two reasons; 1) It is your money being spent, and 2) while we hope not, you just might be a member of the class and have a need to know...


Class Action Settlement


Dearborn County has agreed to a proposed settlement of a lawsuit against the Dearborn County jail which will cost the County as much as $321,000.00. The lawsuit started when Dearborn County jailers strip searched Deborah Smith without a good reason for doing so. After her charges were dismissed, she sued on behalf of a class of people who were stripped searched at the Dearborn County jail between May 12, 2004 and May 12, 2006. The jail policy at that time required strip searches of all persons charged with a felony without any specific reason to believe they were secreting weapons or contraband.

The County has agreed to pay up to $321,000.00 to settle this lawsuit. The County taxpayers or the County’s insurance company will have to pay at least $150,000.00 and as much as $321,000.00 depending on how many persons apply for proceeds from the settlement. The Dearborn County jail further agreed as part of the settlement to not strip search pre-arraignment detainees without reasonable individualized suspicion that the strip search could produce contraband or weapons. The attorney for Ms. Smith and the class was Lisa T. Meeks of the law offices of Newman and Meeks, LPA, 215 East Ninth Street, Suite 650, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

177 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps our law enforcement has gone too far.
What do Lusby and Negangard and the Special Crimes Unit have to say about this?

Anonymous said...

Lusby and Negangard are probably posing for another "get tough" poster to hang in our local business establishments...

Anonymous said...

I would like to thank Doug Garner of Zerbe, Zerbe, & Garner; LLP for the public service message. I have found attorneys rarely involve themselves in matters they don't benefit from. The obvious benefit from this "public service message" would be Zerbe, Zerbe, & Garner's financial interest in representing anyone with a similar issue. What many people don't know is that a new attorney just started with Zerbe, Zerbe, & Garner; LLP two weeks ago. His name is Thomas R. Blondell and on February 21,2008, he filed to run as the Democratic candidate for Dearborn County Superior Court Judge No. 1. It could be coincidence I guess, but attorneys are usually very calculating in their actions. It's a shame Mr. Blondell is less than a month into his race for judge and he is already trying to manipulate the public. Thanks for the public service message Doug. I hope you get your guy into the judge's seat!

Very truly yours,
dearbornwatchdog@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I choose my judicial candidates by their lifetime ranking in the twinkie eating contests held at many of our local fairs and carnivals...

Anonymous said...

hello

Anonymous said...

Tell me more.

Anonymous said...

I don't see the harm in a strip search. It can be a safty meassure because sure as hell one day some unsearched micreant will pull out weapon and surprise everyone.

What's the problem don't we all know what a human body looks like?

Maybe over there on 9th street in Cinti their clients are overly modest.

Anonymous said...

There are two kinds of lawyers, those who know the law and those who know the judge.

Hear about the lady lawyer that dropped her briefs and became a solicitor.

Anonymous said...

What's the problem don't we all know what a human body looks like?

For those who have forgotten what a human body looks like, they should become jailers!

Anonymous said...

Nothing goes together better than a strip search coupled together with a wonderful night out of heavy drinking and driving.

It is a real ego booster if after the strip search the cop asks you for your phone number.

Anonymous said...

"The attorney for Ms. Smith and the class was Lisa T. Meeks..."

Blessed are the “Meeks”: for they, after a lifetime devoted to frivolous litigation, shall inherit the earth, or at least have a lien on it!!!

Anonymous said...

Doug Garner of Zerbe, Zerbe & Garner, LLP, may be setting his law firm up to handle the cases where a prisoner was not searched and wound up injuring or killing another inmate or corrections officer.

Those cases should come with a big pay day...at the taxpayers' expense of course.

Anonymous said...

Lawyers: ALWAYS THERE TO COLLECT A FEE FROM THOSE DANMED IF THEY DO AND DAMNED IF THEY DON'T!!!

Anonymous said...

it wont be funny if your daughter or if she didnt do nothing thank about it or your son what about your wife.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they should stay out of jail then. The safety of jail staff and other inmates is vitally important. Maybe you would like to be a jail officer and see what it's like to be in that environment.

Anonymous said...

The Dearborn County jail further agreed as part of the settlement to not strip search pre-arraignment detainees without reasonable individualized suspicion that the strip search could produce contraband or weapons.

Yeah!

Nothing could go wrong with that plan!

Anonymous said...

I think a phone survey should be done.

Anonymous said...

then why are they paying for doing nothing wrong .

Anonymous said...

They paid because we are becoming a nation of pansies.

Anonymous said...

what a pansie?

Anonymous said...

Pansy:

http://www.ldfashions.com/PRINCESS04.jpg

Anonymous said...

Truth is a rare commodity today.
Many lawsuits are settled because it costs less to pay a settlement than to fight the lawsuit. The general public may not know this, but Lawyers do. Many times Lawyers are the ones who instigate the lawsuit in the first place, hovering overhead looking for another victim to feed upon.

Anonymous said...

"hovering overhead looking for another victim to feed upon."

Which is precisely why we need a "loser pays" system.

Let the lawyers pool their resources to pay for insurance to pay those they bring suit against who ultimately win.

As it stands today, in the present ethical climate, a lawyer can use the threat of suit alone to coerce innocent people into paying extortion because it is cheaper than defending themselves.

Anonymous said...

FYI, didn't Blondell previously work for Lehner?!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, not only do they feed on the victim, they also feed on the taxpayers. They are pretty clever. If they need a new car or vacation, they just find someone to sue some government enity. They can't lose. The enity usually settles because Lawyers charge such outrageous fees to defend the lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

The Lawyer then walks away with a wad of taxpayers money in his pocket. He then rants and raves about the enity wasting taxpayers money by settling the lawsuit (which he instigated in the first place), thus focusing all the blame on the enity, while he walks away squeaky clean, the standard bearer of truth and justice!
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Lawyers. I remember when I was a kid and my mother and I would be out and about and we should chance upon one of our local lawyers. My mother would grab my elbow with one hand and point with her other hand towards the lawyer and she would always say:

"DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN YOU DON'T DRINK YOUR MILK AND EAT YOUR VEGATABLES?"

Anonymous said...

you can always tell when a Lawyer is lying. His lips are moving

Anonymous said...

If these Lawyers really care about the victims of this strip search why don't they represent them for free. That would leave more money for the victims.

Anonymous said...

I don't thnk they care that much.
after all, they have bills to pay too. Can you imagine what the monthly payment is on a million dollar lakefront home.thats alot of lawsuits

Anonymous said...

Lawyers and human misery…an inseparable marriage of dissolute creature appetites and the easy prey of enervated and floundering earthly beings…

Anonymous said...

Tom Blondell's last day at Wood, Lamping, and Lehner was Feb. 29. He's probably going to use this "public service message" from Doug Garner and their firm as an example of how he cares about the taxpayer's money when he runs for judge. Smart political move unless the common folk see it coming first.

Very truly yours,
dearborncountywatchdog@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Witte is doing a fine job.

Vote for Witte.

Anonymous said...

So, with a Judge Blondell, we would not need a uniformed police officer present at commissioners' meetings...we could have a robed judge present, making sure politically connected development interests were not waylaid by the "little" people?

Anonymous said...

Witte can be a bit "prickly" at times, but he is very fair.

Anonymous said...

Witte is the center cog in Dearborn County's wheel of influence. The unoiled wheel of Dearborn County Justice needs a change.

Vote for anybody other than Witte!

NOBODY would do a BETTER job!

Anonymous said...

Specifics as to Witte's "influence?"

Anonymous said...

Ask any lawyer who has the most influence in cases brought before a judge!
The judge is the person who tells the lawyers who is RIGHT.

The judge interprets the case law.

That's influence!

Anonymous said...

That is true with every judge.

Why would "anybody other" be any better than Witte?

Anonymous said...

The legal system needs a new person to lead the Dearborn county legal establishment.

It is time for a change. The old establishment needs a newbase of legal intrepretation. Ideas with a focus on legal justice not politically connected justice.

When we get a new judge, interpretation of the law will be fairer until the judge becomes politically connected, then as in the past, people will need to make another change.

Anonymous said...

Term limits.

As divvied up by the voters.

That is OK with me.

Anonymous said...

I like Jon Cleary.

Vote Jon Cleary for Judge.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that elected judges seldom set their sites back to being an attorney in the private sector, but for the possibility of the voters voting them out of their positions?

Anonymous said...

A judge will always come part and parcel with the power trip that comes with the position.

Anonymous said...

"Why is it that elected judges seldom set their sites back to being an attorney in the private sector, but for the possibility of the voters voting them out of their positions?"

After a judge's position of power is lost, it is hard to accept the reality of an election demotion to lawyer.
That is why in Washington DC the loosing politicians, mostly lawyers, become influence peddling lobbysts.

Anonymous said...

Influence!!!

That is why negangard is backing
Cleary so much!He has none with
Witte.Because Witte is fair,he dont just sign off on something just because Negagard say to do it!
He check law!!Ewbank and Negangard
Dont know how to play fair,so they need another person they can pull all the strings.Oh if they have all the courts on there sides,what they can only do!!Just think all the rights of some people they can just throw out,and how ewbank can
get deals for people with the money

Anonymous said...

Negangard is an attention whore.

Anonymous said...

It is very unfair to suggest that Cleary would be in anyones pocket. That makes it obvious that you no nothing about Jon. Jon is his own person and his strings won't be pulled by others. Also, if you think Negangard has all of the pull you don't know Judge Humphrey either. Jon is the nicest, fairest guy you could ever meet. Please give the guy a chance and meet him rather than jumping on the bandwagon against him because you may not like someone who supports him.

Anonymous said...

All of this bashing Negangard makes no sense. Sure he is in the news alot but how else is Dearborn County and it's citizens supposed to know what's going on? I commend him for what he is doing for our County. We live so close to Cincinnati with it's high murder rate but Dearborn County has remained relatively safe. Kudos to Mr. Negangard. I for one appreciate knowing that our tax dollars are at work and not just drawing a paycheck.

Anonymous said...

They're all politicians. Throw them all out. They spend all of their lives hanging with the right crowd and attending the right parties. We need some real people with character in the county offices. Someone who says what he means and means what he says. Someone who is not afraid to stand alone and do what is right, no matter what the cost. Show me a person like that and I'll vote for them.

Anonymous said...

Right on. You can't trust any of them. They say what they think the public wants to hear.They have no minds of their own.

Anonymous said...

yea!!!!!

Anonymous said...

We sure don't need a judge named blondie. I don't think criminals would be intimidated by that.

Anonymous said...

Maybe we have too many laws.
They sure are complicated.

Anonymous said...

We need term limits of 4 years for all offices. Only 4 years for life.
that would stop all of this!

Anonymous said...

The Lawyers like it complicated. That way you have to hire one to figure it all out. They have cornered the market.

Anonymous said...

Let us get down to brass tacks:

What judicial candidate is most likely to support strip searching me without the benefit of dinner and a show?

Anonymous said...

I am willing to set up a court approved diversion plan for a strip searching cell for hot women at my house at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer.

And I'm not even running for any office.

And if it helps, I am against forced hook-ups.

Anonymous said...

NOTE: Did anyone mention that Mr. Garner represented Deborah Smith in her criminal case?

Anonymous said...

NOTE: Did anyone mention that Mr. Garner represented Deborah Smith in her criminal case?

How dare you introduce facts into a discussion about lawyers!

Anonymous said...

ANOTHER NOTE: Does anyone seem to notice how vague Mr. Garner is in presenting the issues? He said "The County taxpayers OR the County’s insurance company will have to pay at least $150,000.00 and as much as $321,000.00..." Does this mean the taxpayers may not be responsible for paying? Are the taxpayers going to have to pay more if Mr. Garner finds any other people to represent who were strip searched after they were arrested?

Who is Mr. Garner blaming? The Dearborn County Jail? The Dearborn County Jailers? If Mr. Garner is serving as a voice of the common man, sorry Willie Cunningham, why isn't he providing "us commoners" with the names of the people who are responsible? Like him or not, when Willie stirs the pot at least he names the people who (he thinks) are responsible. Of course for you laymen out there, names and details aren’t that important to attorneys or in the court of law. Some of you may think my insight and wisdom may be due to the fact that I am an attorney. I’m sorry to disappoint you because I’m not…but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Very truly yours,
dearbornwatchdog@yahoo.com

(I wrote dearbornCOUNTYwatchdog by mistake earlier, sorry)

Anonymous said...

"Some of you may think my insight and wisdom may be due to the fact that I am an attorney."

Most of us don't regard insight and wisdom to be an interchangeable trait associated with most attorneys.

Anonymous said...

Where was the "insight" and "wisdom" of the shysters who were involved in the creation of the dcrsd?

Anonymous said...

If Mr. Garner is serving as a voice of the common man, sorry Willie Cunningham...

When a "common man" inmate or corrections officer gets hurt or killed due directly to not properly searching a person entering the corrections facility's population, will Garner relinquish his law license in protest?

Anonymous said...

"We live so close to Cincinnati with it's high murder rate but Dearborn County has remained relatively safe. Kudos to Mr. Negangard."

What?

Has Negangard fought our local Realtors and developers over building an "Over-The-Rine-West" in Dearborn County?

That is where most of the murders take place in Cincinnati, don't ya know!

How far have the murder rates plummeted since those awful, Sally Blankenship years since Negangard took over as prosecutor?

Anonymous said...

"Who is Mr. Garner blaming?"

Anyone and everyone, as long as it increases his yearly income!!!

Anonymous said...

Lawyers and politicians. I wonder if we could survive without them.
We would most likely THRIVE without them. Both of them cause more harm than good.

Anonymous said...

Lawyers and politicians: the Ying and the Yang of worse and worser...

Anonymous said...

Let's vote them all out of office and get some real people in there. These people are totally out of touch with the rest of the citizens of Dearborn County. How long are we going to let them feed off us, while they're looking down their noses at us.

Anonymous said...

"How long are we going to let them feed off us, while they're looking down their noses at us."

At least our local political animals pretend to like us, identify with us, while begging for our votes, before they revert back to their condescending, looking down their noses attitudes towards us "common" folks after they win their respective elections!

Anonymous said...

Who ever wins a judgeship in this county, must never forget who owns his long black and flowing robes...

Anonymous said...

We are all to blame. We the people have sit back and let these elitists have their way. I bet they would change their tune if we all got involved

Anonymous said...

ELITISTS?

Argumentative

Slander

Politicking

Ad Homonym

Anonymous said...

ATTENTION: Mr. Blondell emailed me to help set the record straight so in the spirit of fairness and accuracy, I wanted to post this for him.

Tom Blondell wrote “Mr. Garner thought that the public should be informed of the issues and conduct that led to this lawsuit and the unnecessarily harsh treatment of those people arrested and jailed in Dearborn County.” -Did you get all of that?

“…(Mr. Garner’s) primary concern was that County was going to pay out a very large settlement (@ $300,000.00) and that a very limited number of Dearborn County citizens were aware of the lawsuit or the monetary impact such a large settlement would have upon the taxpayers.” -This works out to be about $3 a person. Not to dismiss the value of a dollar, but the penny slots at Argosy probably make that in about 15 minutes.

Tom also wrote “Having never met, I did not understand why your comment included a reference to my campaign for Superior Court Judge or why you represented that I was trying to “manipulate the public”. I assure you that I did not join Mr. Garner’s law firm or decide to run for Judge for any reason other than to contribute to the community, support my family and continue to provide my current and future clients with quality legal representation.” -I would like to offer a formal apology to everyone. I had no idea Mr. Blondell’s financial situation and his need to run for judge in order to put food on the table.

He almost got me here! “If you were sincere regarding your willingness to support my judicial campaign, I am always recruiting community activists, watchdogs and motivated campaign workers. All you need to do is provide me with your contact information and I will have a member of my staff contact you. If you prefer, you may contact me directly at the office or via email.” –Pretty impressive, I was so flattered for a minute I almost called him!

If you’re looking for a good joke in this, I guess it would be the fact that Thomas R. Blondell, the Democratic candidate for judge, actually emailed these things to me today!!! The Watchdog never lies.

Very truly yours,

dearbornwatchdog.com

Anonymous said...

We need more judges on the bench who need to put food on their families' table.

Let us hope such judges shop at ALDI'S.

We do not need judges with more expensive tastes than the job pays.

Anonymous said...

Man, I must be confused. I thought people ran for judge to administer justice and things like that. Well, that just goes to show ya that us common folks need to stay common. We aren't smart enough to be an elitist!

Anonymous said...

Careful watchdog, I think someone may be watching. Some just wrote Argumentative, Slander, Politicking, Ad Homonym. I think someone might be threating you with a slander suit or something. I think "Ad Homonym" is a term that allows attorneys to interpret senseless blogging as slander or liable or something. It would be crazy if someone came after you for posting comments. Hope you don't get stripped searched! Let us know if they try to come after you!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I hope it wouldn't come to that. There's no way it could be someone important. Do you think Hillary, McCain, and Obama watch the blogs for possible slander suits? I guess I better wax, I hate having a hairy back when I'm strip searched. Well so long for now as I can't afford legal fees if an attorney sues me. I'll be back when a different law firm posts something stupid so people can see the watchdog doesn't just pick on Mr. Garner and his firm. If they come to get me, I'll email you from the pokey. (you think Mr. Garner will represent me?)

the dog

Anonymous said...

"Careful watchdog, I think someone may be watching. Some just wrote Argumentative, Slander, Politicking, Ad Homonym. I think someone might be threating you with a slander suit or something."

A little word of advice, just do not refer to the peccadillo's of Mr. John Maxwell in butt sniffer Mr. Robert Ewbank's presence.

Do not not forget the Ewbank/Hammond experience of one of Mr. Robert Ewbank's owned and operated Commissioners' Meetings!

Anonymous said...

"Ewbank's owned and operated Commissioners' Meetings"


BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

And Ewbank was his name-o!

Anonymous said...

Strip search?

So, is the rumor true?

That Rick and Jeff wanted all "Smart Growth" attendees at commissioners' meetings strip searched by their required uniformed police officer, with all biological evidence hand-delivered to county attorney Ewbank?

Anonymous said...

Why do you all keep picking on Bob Ewbank?

He is just an ordinary guy, of little or no exceptional intellect, just trying to game the system for his benefit.

Let him be.

He is our "Hooterville" smart guy!

Do not take that dream away from him!

Anonymous said...

John Maxwell?

A member of the DCRSD Board?

A number one proponent that we all should be on cheap, pressurized sewers?

Has Mr. Maxwell yet connected to St. Leon's pressurized sewers?

Anonymous said...

"Do you think Hillary, McCain, and Obama watch the blogs"

Who knows!

But two of the three candidates would have been supported by our local republican leadership if it would have defeated Thompson and his silly "protect the citizens from crooked development interests" agenda!

Anonymous said...

Vote for Judge Witte: If "hey, look at me" Aaron Negangard is opposed to him...he cannot be all bad...

Anonymous said...

It's gotta be Cleary or Blondell

Anonymous said...

"It's gotta be Cleary or Blondell"

Because why?

Blondell, no matter his qualifications, being a democrat, will not be elected in the straight republican voting dearborn county, and Cleary, not having paid his dues, kissed the appropriate number of republican asses and being supported by the little dweeb that is Aaron Negangard.

Anonymous said...

Witte was elected when he was a young attorney and never paid his dues either. Everyone starts somewhere.

Anonymous said...

Witte is so good...sniff he can run...sniff.. away...sniff with...sniff.........what was i talking about..... vote for ...sniff....

Anonymous said...

So, Witte, as a young attorney, did not kiss the appropriate number of asses to get elected?

What "somewhere" should we all start in order to get elected to judgeship?

And, as an aside, when did attorneys first believe they were smarter than the rest of us?

Anonymous said...

Sniff...cocain...sniff...Vegas?

Is that what you are trying to imply?

Grow up!

Anonymous said...

Cocaine...

...with its euphoric effects that may result in a compulsive psychological need to support our local development interests to support a continuing influx of capital to supply such needs...cocaine?

Anonymous said...

"...to support our local development interests to support a continuing influx of capital to supply such needs...cocaine?"


Bob Ewbank:

"COCAINE FOR ALL THOSE WHO MAY SUPPORT OUR WONDERFUL AND NON-SELF-AGGRANDIZING DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS!!!"

Anonymous said...

I didn't think male jailers could a strip search on a woman? Who is in charge if the JAIL?( name here) And then, who is the boss if that person? These people need to be accounted for, why did they let this go on for so long? How many women are involed? How much money are we talking about? Why is this costing me the tax payer, I DIDN'T GET TO SEE NAKED WOMEN! Make the guys who got the free show PAY! Was the woman embareses enough to tell someone else other than a cop. I want answers and I want peoples jobs, we don't need LAW Officals treating LAW Offenders this way no matter what! WAKE UP people. This goes for the people running this County, look before you jump, Ask us the PEOPLE what we want for the County or City, don't tell us what we want or what best for us. We the PEOPLE need to take back or towns, our cities,and our COUNTRY, if we don't, the people we beat up in school, the geeks, and all the people who think everyone is a winner, will continue to run this town,city and COUNTRY.

Anonymous said...

The problem with the county is we have too many incompetent people in office.

The level headed and educated people in this county are not involved as much as they should be.

98% of the elected county officials can't hold a job anywhere else and that's the situation that we are in.

How many educated/truly competent people are in office making decisions for this county? Not very many.

Anonymous said...

"...the geeks, and all the people who think everyone is a winner, will continue to run this town,city and COUNTRY.

Beware of the hopeless but scheming geeks who finally finagle some sort of political and/or societal power...they may find ways of punishing your innocent children...

Anonymous said...

Let us see some healthy debate between the candidates for judge and then let the voters decide who is the best fit for this county.

The infighting between egos of the prosecutors' office and the judges needs to stop.

They all work for us.

They all need to get their smug heads out of their asses!

Anonymous said...

Labeling these characters "smug" is being generous.

It would seem a little power can go along way in molding an absolute, power-loving asshat!

Anonymous said...

Too often, our elected "ass-hats" forget who put them in their positions.

Anonymous said...

Yeah!

Funny they bend over backwards for our vote, then once elected, act like we need to kiss their rings for an audience with them!

Anonymous said...

Whoever came up with that silly-ass poster with Negangard and others looking "tough" on drugs needs to be fired.

What a joke.

Anonymous said...

Being elected to office is not the same as being ordained. Some of our public electees need to remember that little fact.

Anonymous said...

"STRIP SEARCH AND YOU"

Quit teasing...

Anonymous said...

Vote for no one with close ties to the "present" Republican leadership!

Numerous hot showers with heavy scrubbing of lye soap cannot clean off the stink of such candidates!

Anonymous said...

"Negangard is an attention whore."

Will Aaron be up front and center trying to get to get his big kisser on tv at the next local "Grilling with Tim" episode?

Anonymous said...

It is no wonder we are in bad shape politically. Everybody wants to get on here and make stupid comments about everyone instead of trying something productive. IF everything is such a problem then run for office and constructively tell us what you are going to do instead of badmouthing and name calling. There are good candidates running this time but you can't even get people to talk about issues without a few people calling everybody names. What does everyone think about the Superior Court 1 judges race?

Anonymous said...

WITTE FOR JUDGE!!!!!

Anonymous said...

My vote will be for JON CLEARY, a candidate that won't legislate from the bench and who will remember who put him there, THE PEOPLE!

Anonymous said...

As long as the "THE PEOPLE" are not including the current development owned Republican leadership, Jon will have my vote also.

I will be watching who Ewbank and Morris endorse or tacitly support this election cycle.

Anonymous said...

"What does everyone think about the Superior Court 1 judges race?"


One judge in office full of himself...another would-be judge waiting in the wings for the opportunity to become full of himself...

...I miss Judge Meyer.

What a decent and unassuming man he was.

Anonymous said...

Judge Meyers taking smoke breaks with the jurors...what a down to earth man he was!!! I miss him too!!!

Anonymous said...

Meyers was a man of the people not a man above the people.

Anonymous said...

90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana...

...show me a candidate for judge who has such like information at his or her finger tips and he or she will have my vote!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Truth is- unless you have been to court- you probably know VERY LITTLE about these judges.
So how would you find out- ask a lawyer?

Anonymous said...

So how would you find out- ask a lawyer?

A lawyer like Elliot Spitzer?

Anonymous said...

"Truth is- unless you have been to court- you probably know VERY LITTLE about these judges."

I would love to attend court, but that whole strip-searching thing leaves me reticent in participating in the entire judicial process.

I have gain some weight, this past year.

But I purchased a treadmill and a Bow flex machine...give me a few months and I may be willing to do the "Full Monty" for all our local judges and their happy and gawking attorneys who dance beneath their robes...

Anonymous said...

gain = gained...ed...ed...ed...the Mr. Ed of talking horses...

Anonymous said...

Do the judges go commando underneath their robes? Now that's a reason to run for judge! Could you imagine how comfortable you'd be spending the whole work day in nothing but a robe? Heck with being a judge to support your family, I just want to be comfortable.

Anonymous said...

Jon Cleary is a good man. I think he is a strong candidate with a level head and good family values. He will represent himself and his family well in our county.

Anonymous said...

the ones they should search is comm that say there for the people.

Anonymous said...

“There are good candidates running this time but you can't even get people to talk about issues without a few people calling everybody names. What does everyone think about the Superior Court 1 judges race?”

Is this some goody two-shoes or is it one of the candidates' mothers? How can anyone have an opinion of the judge race when the candidates just filed? It may be a goody two-shoes but it's probably just another lawyer trying to maniputlate the jury. Give the common folk some credit mom.

Anonymous said...

So what IS the issue in the judge race?
Besides Negangard getting his panties in a bunch over Witte ruling against an illegal search and thus wanting someone to remove Witte?
The two Dems are running because they see a possiblity of unseating Witte's opponent in the main- should Witte somehow lose to Cleary.
It's all about political strategy.
How is the common citizen supposed to get info on court issues!?
Are there really any issues other than ego issues with the prosecutor?
PLease enlighten us!

Anonymous said...

Instead of name calling and spreading more rumors, how about really checking out the candidates thru their websites!!!! What sends a shiver down my spine is a candidate running for judge that is backed by the prosecutor and the sheriff, now that's what I would call someone who can be impartial!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

IMO, the prosecutor and the sheriff think it is time for a change!

Anonymous said...

I think it is time for a clean sweep of all public offices.

Flush out all the old blood and bloated egos.

Anonymous said...

Anyone closely connected to the current republican leadership should be considered toxic.

Anonymous said...

I find it amusing that you think Negangard is an ego maniac but Witte is not. The rumor that someone is running against Witte because of an overturned search warrant is ridiculous. Witte said he didn't get the court of appeals job because of a gender pick and said this on WSCH. I guess there is no chance that she was a better candidate. People have wanted him out for years but not many have had the guts to run against him. People want change, 24 years on the bench is too long unless you are Jim Humphrey. Long live Humphrey who knows how to treat people.

Anonymous said...

"Instead of name calling and spreading more rumors, how about really checking out the candidates thru their websites!!!!"

That's a great idea. Who are you working for? I bet they make a very good case for themselves on their websites. An average attorney can make a good case for a repeat sex offender in court.

I'm assuming you aren't in favor of Witte. I don't think Blondell has a website. So why don't you just say what you think about your candidate Jon Cleary. I don't know anything about the man or have an opinion of Mr. Cleary. Could you please spare us from the self righteous pandering?

dearbornwatchdog@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Long live Humphrey who knows how to treat people.

Another product of Ewbank and Kramer.

Enough already of Ewbank and Kramer and Lisa Lehner's influence in this town.

Anonymous said...

What are some specifics of Witte's transgressions?

Anonymous said...

The sheriff and the prosecutor want a change?? Why because they can't control Judge Witte! Judge Witte is fair and impartial, maybe that is why you don't like him. VOTE FOR JUDGE WITTE

Anonymous said...

Fair and Impatial like all of the free media attention he has been receiving since it is election time. Let's see an election is near so how can I get attention. Oh yes, my campaign manager owns a radio station how about I guest DJ with Bubba Bo so I can pretend to be in tune with the public. What about every time you open the paper and read Judge Witte says seatbelts save your lives, wear seatbelts. Unfortunately a few years ago Witte didn't think much of seat belts because a seat belt ticket only cost a dollar in his court, I know I got one!!

Anonymous said...

If only Witte was a "shrinking violet" like Negangard when their is a camera or microphone within a quarter mile!!!

Anonymous said...

So Witte does not act like a good ole frat boy, giving his frat brothers extra consideration regarding judicial matters, so we need to throw his ass out of office?

Connections and connections alone should not mean squat in the administration of "public" justice!

Anonymous said...

What ever happened to healthy competition? I think that it is great that we have two good republican candidates. If you are for Cleary or Witte it doesn't mean you don't like the other candidate, it means that you support the candidate you like. Good luck to Cleary and Witte and may the best man win.

Anonymous said...

Look toward who may be contributing to their respective campaigns, let that be the barometer of how they will conduct themselves once in power.

Their are indeed certain persons in this county that would sell the rest of us out for a buck.

Anonymous said...

Every office holder is entitled to news releases! A little jealousy there. Check out the papers, his releases aren't just at election time, and for your info he sat in with Bubba Bo as Chelsea was on maternity leave. Enough said with you.

Anonymous said...

Why is it, that whenever I am given a choice of voting for one lawyer over another lawyer, I still feel sick to my stomach and somehow exceedingly "dirty" participating in such an exercise?

Could it be that the majority of lawyers and politicians "blow chunks" big time...

...and coupling a lawyer with a politician brings out the worst in such a mix?

Anonymous said...

"Lawyers Egos Gone Wild," not quite the testosterone fueled attractiveness of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series as advertised nightly on the Comedy Channel, but it would still come with all the attending shame of waking up in the middle of the night and such debauchery and low-life-ness was being exhibited and heralded on your TV screen.

Anonymous said...

Vote for me!

Vote for me!

Vote for me!

But don't expect anything from me after I get your vote!

You see...I am only looking out for "ME" and not "YOU!"

Vote for me!

Anonymous said...

they dont have law enforcement when county commissioners waste the tax payers thats when your strip search comes in to play.

Anonymous said...

"Witte said he didn't get the court of appeals job because of a gender pick and said this on WSCH."

A mixed Asian American bitching about set-aside affirmative action programs benefiting the female gender...

...how rich is that?

Judicial candidates fighting over who is the bigger victim in our "unfair" society, deserving equal but separate treatment in the good ole US of A!

How about this, Mike, you were not picked for reasons that most of us are not picked for jobs...

...you did not exceedingly and outstandingly meet the requirements...

...whatever the requirements...

...were for the job.

Anonymous said...

they dont have law enforcement when county commissioners waste the tax payers thats when your strip search comes in to play.

Drink some strong coffee and get back with us.

Anonymous said...

Egos...egos...everywhere...but nowhere more prevalent and obnoxiously obvious as in our local and "forever-adolescent" legal commmunity...

Anonymous said...

Judge Witte, you are no more special than the rest of us pukes.

Cleary, accept the same fate.

Law schools do not produce the best and the brighest in our wonderful land.

Get over yourselves.

Please.

Anonymous said...

No wonder Mike Witte feels so superior than the rest of us, look at the daily parade of numb-nuts who come before him!

After a while, he must think we are all so thick!

Sad for him!

Anonymous said...

Once an elected official feels above and apart from those who elected that official...well...you all provide the answer to such query...

...the same goes for those would-be elected officials relying on corrupt and entrenched political machines to endorse themselves into the same elected offices....

Anonymous said...

Negangard could only feel superior in and amongst an environment of the same daily low lives that come before Witte.

Two peas in one pod.

Two very, very small fish in the same piddling poor-ass puddle.

Anonymous said...

So, I had a few drinks, I'm wearing comfortable, loose fitting clothes, when do I get my promised strip searching?

Anonymous said...

"So, I had a few drinks, I'm wearing comfortable, loose fitting clothes, when do I get my promised strip searching?"

Lisa...for goodness sakes...please just go home and go to bed before you embarrass yourself anymore.

Anonymous said...

Class Action Settlement

Sign up one and all, thank you all that have been so painfully and emotionally afflicted by such actions of this class action suit, may you all end up with a few gift certificates to the jail house buffet while a few of us lawyers pocket more dollars than you peasants could ever realize in a lifetime of hard work.

Thank you for your pain and emotional hardship.

Law school has been very, very good to us.

Anonymous said...

"Unfortunately a few years ago Witte didn't think much of seat belts because a seat belt ticket only cost a dollar in his court, I know I got one!!"

Ask yourself just how much he should fine for such a minor infraction.

Ask yourself if he's tough enough on real crimes.

Does he send 10 year olds who play with matches to be strip searched in adult jail?

Anonymous said...

I know, when at times I completely forget to buckle my seatbelt, I hope for a very large fine and a good strip searching to prime my memory for buckling up in the future!!!

Anonymous said...

If Witte is somehow at odds with Negangard, then I would categorize that as a draw and a good thing for the rest of us who happen to reside in this County.

Anonymous said...

Two self-important nim-rods countering one another...

...what a great country we live in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes, I realize I forgot to fasten my seat belt and almost kill by myself and others while trying to fasten it while driving down the road.

How ironic is that?

Anonymous said...

Bill Clinton is coming to town today...

...will Frank Linkmeyer introduce his two "special" guests, Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox, to Mr. Blue Stained Dress?

Will Bob Ewbank be off in the shadows clapping and whispering "bravo...bravo?"

Anonymous said...

If Slick Willy is coming to town my advice would be to hide the interns!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hillary is so qualified to be President that Bill has said on many occasions he would campaign for her even if he was sleeping with her!!!

Anonymous said...

Will Bob be wearing his blue dress?

Anonymous said...

"Will Bob be wearing his blue dress?"

Does Maxwell prefer Bob in blue?

Anonymous said...

It is not the color of Bob's dress that Maxwell so admires, it is his Blue Heeler cow dog quality of herding Fox and Hughes to go just where Maxwell wishes!

Stained Blue Heeler cow dog that Bob is!

Anonymous said...

Good dog, bob, good dog.

Anonymous said...

Bob is three times the obedient dog to John Maxwell as Rick and Jeff are the ever obedient dogs to Bob...

...oh...

...the circle of low-life...

...dogs!

Anonymous said...

Bob Ewbank is one of the most hilarious county attorneys we have ever had.

And he is not even trying to be funny.

Anonymous said...

Can you just envision Frank Kramer raising both his arms and hands up to chest level and letting them fall down in unison to his thighs in exasperation as to Bob's antics?

Frank deserves so much better!

Anonymous said...

blue goes good with there eyes messmore go the cigar's

Anonymous said...

"The rumor that someone is running against Witte because of an overturned search warrant is ridiculous."

If the "rumor" is ridiculous, why did the Appellate Court and the Supreme Court uphold Judge Witte's ruling? Why did Witte have to overturn another Judge's ruling in the first place? And why doesn't Negangard as an Officer of the Court want to uphold the law, instead of putting Cleary up to get rid of Witte. That is demeaning of Cleary, who otherwise appears to be a good man.

After all, isn't it the job of the Judge to administer the law correctly? It seems that Witte has been upheld as doing so. A Judge is supposed to fair and impartial, while upholding the Law. How can Cleary maintain the appearance of impartiality with all his support and connection to the Prosecutor?

And in two years the Judge who made the bad ruling in the first place ought to be replaced. If Cleary wants to do a good job he should run against her.

Anonymous said...

"And in two years the Judge who made the bad ruling in the first place ought to be replaced. If Cleary wants to do a good job he should run against her."

And we have a winner in judicial logic!

The best description of the case to date!

Good for you!

Anonymous said...

I thought that was you on this board Della, it must be, once again the facts are wrong. No since explaining it because Della will switch them so that they fit her lame brain argument!

Anonymous said...

What's a della?

Anonymous said...

I do so love to watch the petty battles between inconsequential lawyers…

Anonymous said...

Whatever:
Encumbancy has it's money and limits! It's time for a change!
Dearborn County needs new leadership in jurisprudance.

Power of judges
In common law countries, such as the United States, and those with roots in the Commonwealth of Nations, judges have a number of powers which are not known to exist, or are not acknowledged to exist, in civil law legal systems, which collectively make the judiciary a more powerful political force than in civil law countries.

One of these powers is the "contempt of court" power.

Judges and juries
In the common law system, when there is a jury trial in the trial courts, the jury generally decides questions of fact (guilty or not guilty, whether a party was negligent, etc.) while a single judge decides questions of law (under common-law systems, one of the judge's most important powers is to craft jury instructions).



The jury system was established because it was felt that a panel of citizens, drawn at random from the community, and serving for too short a time to be corrupted, would be more likely to render a just verdict, through judging both the accused and the law, than officials who may be unduly influenced to follow merely the established law. Jury nullification is a reminder that the right to trial by one's peers affords the public an opportunity to take a dissenting view about the justness of a statute or official practices.

“ I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution. ”
—Thomas Jefferson, 1789 letter to Thomas Paine


It's time for a change!

Anonymous said...

Would the wannabe judges running in this election cycle be willing to restrict themselves to two terms?

Same with the prosecutor's office, two terms and your out?

The same with County attorneys such as Ewbank? Two appointments and then out?

If incumbency is bad and change is good!

Anonymous said...

One politician shouting for "change" because another politician is not bending to his or her will!

Heaped upon the citizens because of the vainglorious egos polluting all sides of the debate!

Anonymous said...

Thomas Jefferson nor Thomas Paine would have much in common with the lesser quality of our present day judges, lawyers and politicians...