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Here's another recent example of Judge Cashman's brand of "justice:

UVM Police Powers Challenged

Burlington, Vermont - November 7, 2005

For years UVM Police have operated like any other agency in the state. They are trained the same.. they are certified the same. They cite and arrest people for all sorts of crimes.

That's what happened last May. UVM police arrested a young man for drunk driving on a city street. He refused to take a breath test.

Under Vermont law the refusal should have triggered automatic license suspension and might lead to a criminal conviction.

But not in this case.

District Judge Edward Cashman threw out the drunk driving charge. Cashman ruled that UVM police have legal authority only on campus property and only with UVM students faculty and staff.

"We respectfully disagree with the opinion Judge Cashman has brought down to us. We will be appealing the decision," says Colin McNeil, Chittenden Deputy Prosecutor.

McNeil says he was surprised by the ruling.

Cashman said UVM police powers are limited because they are supervised by UVM's appointed trustees rather than elected officials as required by the Vermont Constitution. But other judges have consistently ruled that the UVM police are authorized to work anyplace and that's why the prosecutor was stunned.

"No, did not expect it to go this way. We've had other opinions,other cases in the past where we've had a favorable ruling and did not expect that the judge would rule this way," says McNeil.

"First of all, the ruling was completely bewildering," says Chief Gary Margolis of UVM Police.

The UVM police chief says his officers will continue to do their duties including off-campus patrols and investigations. But for now, he is more concerned about what the judge's ruling means for the DWI suspect.

"I was concerned that there were no consequences for his action, you know in any way,shape or form and that's a concern because what's gonna keep him from doing it again," says Chief Margolis.

Now prosecutors say they will appeal Judge Cashman's ruling to the Vermont Supreme Court.