AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC
An editor’s mistake in the April 29 Journal Press article titled “GOP primary hot for commish, judge” contained the following misquote:
“Witte said, unlike his opponent, he would not accept a campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before him.”
The actual quote submitted in writing to the Journal Press was:
“I would never accept an $8,000 campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before me. My opponent has. Again, this highlights the inexperience of my opponent.”
By editing the phrase “$8,000”, the entire context of my statement incorrectly changed. I have accepted contributions from 5 local attorneys – none exceeding more than $250. Lesser contributions like these are not going to compromise any judge.
The newspaper has the original submission. You may contact the newspaper to verify their mistake.
Judge G. Michael Witte
Dearborn Superior Court No. 1
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31 comments:
What attorney gave Cleary $8,000.00?
Richard Butler. You won't see it on his 2008 campaingfinance report now as it was in 2007.
All of Butler's cases should thus go before Blankenship.
Or the citizens will always have in the back of their minds: "was Butler's case before Cleary won on the merits or just another reciprocal backscratching exercise."
So, some of the attoreneys don't like to practice before Witte! Maybe they just want someone in there that they can manipulate. Cleary probably thought that the contribution from 2007 wouldn't show up. It should have been on his financial statement. At least he filed a statement. There are some who haven't even done that.
Dot all the legally required "I's" and cross all the legally required "T's" and you will do well in front of Witte.
Sometimes, less experienced, politically hungry prosecutors get a little sloppy.
Don't blame that on the judge.
Here's something to think about..the attorney who gave Judge Witte $250.00 was APPOINTED by Judge Witte to serve as Plan Administrator for the local pro bono commission. Frank Cardis is that local attorney who gets close to $62,000.00 to "administer" pro bono work in the area. This isn't a comprise?
$250.00 is not 8,000.00.
The more zeros behind the number contributed the more the level of the appearance of impropriety rises.
Here we go with more of the whisper campaign and the inuendos.
Frank Cardis was appointed to the Pro Bono board well over a year ago. He contributed to a number of campaigns this election cycle. Trying to say that contributing $250 in the last two months landed him an appiontment over a year ago is just plain stupid. But if people don't know the facts, they might think there was something to this. Just alot of the smae old throwing dust in the air to see if it will stick on anyone. This time, the comment was way out of line just based on the time line!
"Frank Cardis is that local attorney who gets close to $62,000.00 to "administer" pro bono work in the area."
Is this verifiable? Or is this just the pro bono budget? How do you make that kind of money off of volunteers?
You just have to believe that the judges race has something to do with forced sewer hookups.
I must say that I am personally SO EXCITED to get to the polls either this week at the L'burg Public Library or on election day. I CAN NOT WAIT to get in there and vote especially in this Republican Judicial campaign. Even though I am passionate about which Democratic Presidential Candidate to nominate, I would not miss voting in this Superior Court Judge race for anything! It is so refreshing to have a candidate that has so much support, as indicated by all the green signs painting Dearborn County and all of the passionate testimonials from those who know him. This has been hard earned support building off of character, integrity, ethical treatment of all people as human beings, hard work, and hard-earned respect. I am so impresssed that, even though Witte has made many personal attacks against his apponent, with no real merrit, Mr. Cleary has held his head high and refused to participate in a smear campaign. The people of Dearborn County will get their chance soon to send a message to Mr. Witte that no one wants to listen to the disrespect he publicly shows to many people, usually in a public manner. From what I have learned about Mr. Cleary, he has educated himself, worked hard, made others proud to know him, and always treated all people respectfully even when he is under attack. How refreshing that will be to have someone like him in office - you have my vote Mr. Cleary, and I absolutely can not wait to give it to you. It has been hard earned. As for all this about $8000, WOW - Mr. Butler must really believe that a change is needed, perhaps he had been disrespected my Mr. Witte in a public manner - wonder what # he is in that long line. I am glad that there are other judges that are able to hear his cases though since he has made such a strong stand to support Mr. Cleary. I don't understand why someone said that it wasn't in your financial report, I read about his support in the Newspaper's article about financial reports. I had even remarked about it to my husband, wondering what Witte had done to Butler.... whatever the reason for the support, I'm glad he gave it to you and I wish I had $8000 to give as well. I guess I should have went to Law School. It's a brave person to run against Mr. Witte, as proven in the past, to stand up to him is really opening yourself up for attack. I am proud of you, Mr. Cleary, for standing tall. You'll make an excellent Judge.
You just have to believe that the judges race has something to do with forced sewer hookups.
It is just eating you up that your conniving to get the rest of us to subsidize your development keeps hitting brick walls.
Wait till after this election cycle, your head will explode.
"I am proud of you, Mr. Cleary, for standing tall. You'll make an excellent Judge."
Thanks, Mom!
Signed: Jon Cleary
"You just have to believe that the judges race has something to do with forced sewer hookups."
Still importing board members from other states? It must suck to be such an embarrassment that nobody locally would have their name sullied attached to your den of thieves!
This post is intended to correct false information previously posted on this blog.
I was appointed plan administrator in May, 2006.
My monthly salary as part-time plan administrator is 2,500.00. As part of the program's annual grant application process to the Indiana Pro Bono Commission, all budget requests are published and available on the internet at "http://www.in.gov/judiciary/probono/"
Grant applications and budgets are available from 2002 to present.
At this webstite, information for the other 13 pro bono districts is available as a basis of comparison. All grant applications are approved by the Indiana Pro Bono Commission and its subcommittees. If approved, the Indiana Bar Foundation approves funding for the various districts. The local pro bono program, Legal Volunteers of Southeast Indiana, Inc. is governed by a 13 member board which, by Supreme Court Rule, must have members from each of the five counties served by the program in addition to the Judge selected by the Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
Please take the time to check the accuracy of this information.
Frank J. Cardis
Welcome to Dearborn County Republican politics!
Taking sliming to a whole new level!
Watch what they try to do to Scott, Hoog, Hammond, Darling and Holland!
Perhaps not taking a large... campaign contribution from a local attorney would have been the best way not to start the whole deal! Not a good choice at all.
Quick grab the kitchen sink. That is about the only thing left that Witte has not tried to clobber Cleary with. Cleary was attacked a few weeks ago for having the support of law enforcement. Then Witte says in a radio as that he has the support of "most" law enforcement. Now Cleary is being attacked for having the support of the criminal defense attorneys. Then Witte says he has 5 attorneys supporting him. Witte calls Cleary a rookie, despite Witte being only 27, 5 years younger than Cleary is now, when he ran for Judge. Whenever you decide who is "allowed" to support Cleary, just let us know. Witte never talks about what he has done for us he only badmouths Cleary.
Isn't Richard Butler one of the Election Board Members representing the Democratic party? If so, why is he supporting the Republicans financially? Why is he on the Election Board still?
Look at http://www.in.gov/judiciary/probono/attorneys/districts/pdf/2008/plan-dist12.pdf
Carids says he only gets $2500 every month (only $30,000 a year!)
Plus $5200 for "paralegals" plus $600 for "Occupancy" plus $500 for "Equipment Rental" plus $750 for "Office Supplies" plus $1500 for "Telephone" plus $1000 for "Travel" plus $1000 for "Training" plus $1775 for "Malpractice Insurance" plus $300 for "Dues and Fees" plus "$2000 for "Reserve" plus $800 for "Marketing and Promotion" plus $1500 for "ATTORNEY RECOGNITION" plus $5000 for "Litigation expenditures" plus $2400 for "Contract Services" plus $1000 for "Other"
So is it $30,000 or $60,000 going into the pocket??? Do the volunteer attorneys helping the poor get ANYTHING other than the great sense of helping others which is probably enough for them?
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/probono/attorneys/districts/pdf/2008/plan-dist12.pdf
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/probono/attorneys/districts/pdf/2008/plan-dist12.pdf
Quit whining, Witte has not been clobbering Cleary! Clearys inexperience shows, when he can take a huge contribution and have the prosecutor and sheriff back him. How can he ever be an impartial judge with those actions. So someone comments on those things and you all get in a tizzy!! Judges have a judicial code of conduct and rules to follow!! Witte has experience above and beyond, that's just rattles your cage too, doesn't it??
You have to start somewhere. Experience comes from --- oh yeah- experience!
Will Cleary, if elected, be the most overturned judge in Dearborn County history?
If he follows Negangard and the sheriff's lead he will.
It seems Witte is acting like the "rookie". Why act like this? The current sitting judge has to behave like this? He sees all the support in Dearborn County that Cleary has and is obviously getting a little nervous.
How is Witte acting?
Specifics please?
As far as signs...come on...did you see the Linkmeyer/Thompson campaign?
And who won?
Linkmeyer ten thousand signs to Thompson's few, mostly homemade signs. Thompson still beat two political machines. Think about who is supporting Cleary, a nice guy, I am sure? But the same old but new version of the good old boy network. Let is just end all this incestuous behavior here and now.
You hit the nail right on the head, Cleary is part of the good old boy network. Walking hand in hand with Aaron and Gary... What a walk!
To the unoriginal one above:
What are your facts to back it up. Jon is not a good ol boy. Don't penalize Jon and spread rumors that aren't true. How about coming up with something productive. Wait you can't so you resort to calling Jon a good ol' boy.
Wait you can't so you resort to calling Jon a good ol' boy.
Both Michael and Jon are simply lawyers...
...if they could do math or science they would have been engineers or scientists...
...but they both had to settle for second, third and even fourth best...
...and become lawyers...
...what does either one have to offer me?
As a citzen?
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