Judge Accused Of Saying Women Ask To Get 'Smacked Around'

WNBC ^ | 01.06.03 | AP

[Cathryn Crawford]

Judge Accused Of Saying Women Ask To Get 'Smacked Around'

Village Justice Resigns After Alleged Comments

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A village judge has resigned after he was accused of saying most women enjoy abuse and ask to get "smacked around" and that domestic violence cases are a waste of the court's time.

Hunter Village Justice Robert Hamley, 50, resigned after he "acknowledged that he could not successfully defend the charges against him," the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct announced Tuesday.

Hamley, who isn't a lawyer, resigned Nov. 17 from the $4,500-a-year, part-time job in this small Catskills village about 100 miles north of New York City. He had been justice since 1997; his term was to expire in 2005.

Hamley was accused of telling a victim of domestic violence in court that such cases are "dragged out" and a "waste of the court's time." He also was accused of telling a state trooper that most women enjoy being abused and they asked to get "smacked around," according to the commission.

Hamley agreed to never seek or accept another judgeship. He admitted some charges and denied others in the commission's findings, but didn't specify which in the stipulation.

His lawyer said defending the charges would have been too expensive for Hamley, who runs his own exporting business.

"After a long, distinguished career as a justice in the Hunter Village Court, Judge Hamley tendered his resignation Nov. 17 to the Hunter Village Board for personal reasons," said Sean Doolan.

Hamley resigned the day before his state hearing would have begun. He could not be reached as his home telephone number.

Doolan wouldn't discuss the statements attributed to his client, but acknowledged that Hamley signed the agreement with the state commission.

To defend himself against the charges cost him five or 10 times as much as the part-time salary, Doolan said.

"It's very expensive to defend charges such as this, to go up against an institution such as this," Doolan said.

Hamley was also accused of taking over two traffic cases pending in another court and improperly discussing cases with a defendant and the mayor of Hunter, then improperly disposing of the cases.

[billorites]

This fellow must have been drinking.

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[Paul Atreides]

But, if he rapes a woman, and keeps abortion, as a form of birth control, legal, he can be President. That is, if he has a (D) behind his name.

Oh yeah, he can also leave a woman to drown in a wrecked car.

[Restorer]

Maybe he knows what he's talking about.

He's certainly asking to be smacked around, and I'm sure he will get exactly what he's asking for.

[Darksheare]

This judge is a pretty good symbol of what I hate out there.
At least he resigned.
Small comfort.

Makes one wonder what decisions he made from the bench, and how his view as seen in the article colored those decisions.

[Scenic Sounds]

Hamley was accused of telling a victim of domestic violence in court that such cases are "dragged out" and a "waste of the court's time." He also was accused of telling a state trooper that most women enjoy being abused and they asked to get "smacked around," according to the commission.

Ridiculously reprehensible, Cathryn. This guy was entrusted to dispense justice.

I want you to bookmark this thread as proof that this kind of justice can occur outside of Texas, occasionally. ;-)

[Tempest]

After watching COPS and Jerry Springer I'm almost inclined to believe the judges assertions.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I want you to bookmark this thread as proof that this kind of justice can occur outside of Texas, occasionally.

Boy, oh boy. One of these days...

[Scenic Sounds]

After watching COPS and Jerry Springer I'm almost inclined to believe the judges assertions.

What kind of education did people tell you you'd get watching Jerry Springer? ;-)

[Neets]

Oh goodie...another reason to convince I need to continue living in this state.....

[Paul Atreides]

After watching COPS and Jerry Springer I'm almost inclined to believe the judges assertions.

Not to mention who are the heroes of NOW.

[BushCountry]

In further news, Judge Hamley asked the women, "What do you tell a women with two blacks eyes?"

The women replied, "I don't know."

The Judge says with a wink, "Nothing, I already told her twice!"

[Rebelbase]

I wonder if any of his prior domestic violence judgements could be reveresed because of his admitted bias.

[bigfootbob]

I had an employee whose wife, and him too for that matter, that fits your assumptions. All of their friends shared the same traits.

[BushCountry]

Yep, certainly grounds for an appeal. He is a first class idiot.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I wonder if any of his prior domestic violence judgements could be reveresed because of his admitted bias.

I don't know. Maybe we'll hear more about it. It's a good question, definitely.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I had an employee whose wife, and him too for that matter, that fits your assumptions. All of their friends shared the same traits.

They all probably thought you needed to be smacked around, too.