Posted on 06/18/2006 11:00:29 PM PDT by kenth
A Cuyahoga County judge threw out the charge against a man accused of raping a girl six years ago when the prosecutor in the case was 45 minutes late to trial.
Prosecutors have filed an appeal and said, if necessary, they will refile the charge against Norman Allen Craig, 22, of North Ridgeville.
The mother of the now 16-year-old Rocky River girl said her daughter feels victimized by the judges decision.
Common Pleas Judge Eileen Gallagher dismissed the case when Assistant County Prosecutor Mark Schneider had not shown up by 1:45 p.m. Monday, after she told both sides to be in court at 1 p.m.
Schneider was in his office preparing an appeal seeking to prevent the judge from continuing with the trial.
Earlier in the day, Schneider had asked the judge to remove herself from the case, saying the judge said last year that she thought the accuser had credibility problems.
Nobody should be rendering opinions from the bench before trial, Schneider said. A child victim whos being put through the wringer deserves a fair shake at trial.
Gallagher said her decision to throw out the charge had nothing to do with the girls credibility.
It was all about the unprofessional actions of a prosecutor, she said. You dont show up too bad. Dont treat me like a punk and not show up in court without giving us the courtesy of notifying us where you are.
County Prosecutor Bill Mason said calls were made to Gallaghers office, and she should have been aware of Schneiders pending arrival before deciding to throw out the case.
Judge is a real class act...NOT.
Unfortunately much of Judicial Land is like this.
How would this judge react if she were a rape victim and another judge threw out the case against her rapist?
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Yep. A case about the alleged rape of a ten year old girl and this judge thinks it's all about her.
You dont show up too bad. Dont treat me like a punk..."
I agree, but others here do not. lol.
Why not? Sounds appropriate.
More and more in the news lately we hear of judges doing some absolutely insane things. How is justice served when the judge puts himself/herself above the court of the people?
I hope O'Reilly picks up on this. I'm going to email it to him for what it's worth.
L
So, she is a bigger victim than the plantiff because she had to cool her heels for 45 minutes?? I feel sorry for her OB/GYN when she shows up for her next 9 AM appointment; he/she is so screwed. Good thing Alcatraz is closed.
I'd guess that's her mom
|
It seems to me the prosecutor being late should have no bearing on the case. Instead the prosecutor should be held accountable for being late. Pay a fine or whatever judges do to lawyers that misbehave.
I think the ugly one is the right one. The other is Judge Eileen T. Gallagher. Two Judge Eileen Gallaghers in the same Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County Ohio is too bizarre.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.