LIMBAUGH CASE: JUDGE IN PALM BEACH HOOKED ON OXYCONTIN, REHAB, REMOVED FROM BENCH; NO CRIMINAL PROBE

Drudgereport ^ | March 5, 2004 | Drudgereport

[rockinonritalin]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX FRI MARCH 05, 2004 10:07:34 ET XXXXX

LIMBAUGH CASE: JUDGE IN PALM BEACH HOOKED ON OXYCONTIN, REHAB, REMOVED FROM BENCH; NO CRIMINAL PROBE

A Palm Beach Country Judge -- who operated in the same jurisdiction that is current hearing the Rush Limbaugh pill case -- was hooked on OxyContin and forced from the bench, but was never investigated if he obtained the pills legally, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.

MORE

Within the last 18 months, Palm Beach Country Judge Robert Schwartz was "involuntarily retired" and removed after he checked himself into a treatment center for dependency of the painkiller OxyContin -- the same drug at the center of the Limbaugh probe.

"He was severely addicted to prescription pain killers," an insider tells the DRUDGE REPORT. "He probably got them from a variety of sources. But unlike Rush Limbaugh, he was never prosecuted! His records do not appear to have been seized nor were his doctors’ offices raided. Talk about friend of the court!"

MORE

News of the Palm Beach judge's ordeal appears to give credence to Limbaugh's claim that he is being selectively prosecuted.

Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer refused to comment Friday on the Judge Schwartz/Limbaugh confusion.

Judge Schwartz was hooked on OxyContin for eight years, says a source. He was removed from the bench in October 2002 only after he was unable to hold court, staying in his chambers for several hours a day!

Schwartz suffered from numerous psychological and emotional disorders, including drug dependency, anxiety, panic disorder and sleeping disorder.

Last fall, Limbaugh publicly acknowledged that he's addicted to pain medication and has completed a drug rehabilitation program.

He remains under investigation by Palm Beach County prosecutors for alleged doctor-shopping.

Now if only Palm Beach Country Judge Robert Schwartz was available to hear the case...

Developing...

[1Old Pro]

News of the Palm Beach judge's ordeal appears to give credence to Limbaugh's claim that he is being selectively prosecuted.

As if we needed more evidence that this is a selective political fishing expedition.

[antiRepublicrat]

The last time I checked, Rush didn't have the power to put anyone in jail, levy fines, etc. Be serious.

I bet he has more overall influence. The government could yank his license if it wanted to be perfectly "fair."

[RS]

""He was severely addicted to prescription pain killers," an insider tells the DRUDGE REPORT. "He probably got them from a variety of sources. But unlike Rush Limbaugh, he was never prosecuted!"

... probably got them ??? - it appears this "insider" is speculating -
Limbaugh's search warrents were in part based on the statements by someone saying that THEY were his supplier, and other statements by the same source have been found to be valid.
Rush has NEVER denied obtaining drugs through this source.

... and Rush has not been prosecuted ( yet ) either...

[elfman2]

This is the nail in the coffin for the prosecutor's case.

[RS]

"Anyone want to guess how this story will be reported in the mainstream media? "
Yep, just like this...

.

[FBD]

>"Palm Beach *Country* Judge
Repeated 3 times in the article."<

Drudge must have been excited!
It's corrected, without typos.
Here it is:

http://www.drudgereport.com/rush5.htm

[pepperhead]

I bet he has more overall influence. The government could yank his license if it wanted to be perfectly "fair."

Once again we don't pay Rush. The judge was being paid by taxpayers couldn't work half of the time he was there and could do more damage to people than Rush ever could. Perfectly "fair" is prosecuting them the same way and not what we have here.

[antiRepublicrat]

Once again we don't pay Rush.

The consumer always pays in the end for what he receives. After his addiction announcement, a lot of people said "Ah, that explains a lot" so it must have been affecting his performance.

The point is not to mix cases -- every case is different. Just because the judge was dumped doesn't mean Rush should be. Just because the judge is let off doesn't mean Rush should be (on the merits of comparison alone).

[Landru]

"Mr Landru, I find those comments show contempt...for this judge!"

HA!!
Yea they do, don't they. :o)

~& it's "Mr Landru" now, huh?
I like it, I really do.

Sounds like a new, Pop Culture *trend* I could live with.

...for a change. {g}

[pepperhead]

The consumer always pays in the end for what he receives. After his addiction announcement, a lot of people said "Ah, that explains a lot" so it must have been affecting his performance.

Yeah that excused them going into his private medical records and not the doping judges. It's all about the Snapple.

[FBD]

I've got another take on this:
This OXYCONTIN drug is highly addictive. A lot of folks have gotten addicted to this drug, while taking it for legitimate relief of pain, as precribed to them.

There are a ton of side effects of this drug, one of which is:

HEARING LOSS.

Where are the liberal tobacco trial lawyers, on this?
The case seems ripe... for the *picking*. :o

[tutstar]

especially if they are wearing a black robe in Florida...

[FBD]

"I like it, I really do.

Sounds like a new, Pop Culture *trend* I could live with."

Yeah well, don't get too used to it.. We all know how long trends last...eh, 'dru? :)

[Landru]

"Yeah well, don't get too used to it...We all know how long trends last...eh, 'dru?"

HA!!
Yea well, all I was looking for was my rightful 15 minutes.
For chrissakes don't be so stingy, that isn't asking too much.

...is it? :o)

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[Kay Soze]

Selective enforcement is VERY common on both sides of asile.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

You're right, equal treatment: drop the case and count his rehab, then kick him out of his broadcaster's chair as the judge was removed from his bench.

Do we really want absolutely equal treatment for all offenders? I'd like to keep listening to Rush.

The judge was forced into retirement after his problem had progressed to the point where he stopped holding court. I'm sure Rush would retire--I'm sure we would retire him--before ever he were, Heaven forefend, to reach that stage.

[CFC__VRWC]

Someone's got some splainin' to do.

It's Palm Beach County - no further explanation is necessary.

[anniegetyourgun]

Lib/dems always end up overplaying their hand.

[jerseygirl]

Go Rush!
(One pill is too many; a thousand never enough.)