Judge Apologizes for Courtroom Party

AP/Newsday ^ | 5/14/05 | n/a

[kiriath_jearim]

Judge Apologizes for Courtroom Party

By Associated Press

May 14, 2005, 12:04 AM EDT

DALLAS -- A judge who threw a courtroom party with balloons and cake to celebrate the recapture of a man who fled during his trial has apologized after a state panel admonished her.

Dallas District Judge Faith Johnson served ice cream and hung streamers for a court proceeding last year in which Billy Wayne Williams discovered he had been sentenced in absentia to life in prison.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which issued the public admonition, also discovered that Johnson had planned for a TV crew to capture Williams' expression when he entered the courtroom.

"If my celebration of the return of fugitive Billy Wayne Williams offended any member of the community, I deeply apologize," Johnson wrote in a statement released Thursday.

In 2003, Johnson granted Williams a personal recognizance bond before he disappeared during his aggravated assault trial; he was captured nearly a year later. He was accused of choking his girlfriend to the point of unconsciousness.

Johnson initially defended her actions, saying that getting a killer and abuser of women off the streets was reason to celebrate.

[explodingspleen]

Johnson initially defended her actions, saying that getting a killer and abuser of women off the streets was reason to celebrate.

I agree.

[martin_fierro]

Billy Wayne Williams

Of course.

[JoeSixPack1]

In 2003, Johnson granted Williams a personal recognizance bond ...

Duh, stupid ^itch!

[stylin19a]

"If my celebration of the return of fugitive Billy Wayne Williams offended any member of the community, I deeply apologize," Johnson wrote in a statement released Thursday.

Ratspeak is now considered an apology !

[jocon307]

I'm sorry, but this Judge sounds nuts. She let a guy facing life in prison just waltz out of courtroom; and when he is re-captured decides to humiliate him? I'm telling you, this is not what I sould call judicious behaviour.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

A product of the NOW generation. She should not be a judge, I don't see any wisdom coming from her bench.

[kennedy]

Faith Johnson was originally an Ann Richards appointee. Here is her bio.

[kennedy]

...Johnson had planned for a TV crew to capture Williams' expression when he entered the courtroom...

[JAWs]

I'm in the minority here, but IMO, the judge behaved incredibly inappropriately. That sort of decorum is unacceptable in the court of law, especially from the bench. I don't mind her being happy that the defendant was recaptured. I expect her to take his action into consideration as well. However, leave the balloons for a non-public venue, OK?

[Nyboe]

It's good to know state panels are admonishing Judges for parties instead of going after Judges who sentence innocent handicapped women to death.

[Wycowboy]

However, leave the balloons for a non-public venue, OK?

Yeah, we need separation of balloons and state!!

[planekT]

Yep. Judges are supposed to be impartial. This action shows nothing of the sort. She should probably recuse herself from the case. In fact I wouldn't be suprised if the perps lawyer asks her to.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I tell ya, Allen Funt was the Ashton Kutcher of his day.