Judge punished for forcing cheers

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | Wednesday, August 9, 2006 | no byline

[weegee]

OLYMPIA -- A state panel has disciplined three judges, including a Tacoma jurist who ordered courtroom cheers for the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks before issuing a manslaughter sentence.

The state Commission on Judicial Conduct gave each judge an admonishment, the panel's lowest-ranking punishment, in rulings released Friday.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Beverly Grant's discipline stems from a Feb. 3 hearing in which she sentenced Steve Keo Teang to 13 1/2 years for manslaughter in the 2005 shooting death of Tino Patricelli, 28.

Before the proceedings, Grant asked about 100 people in court to say "Go Seahawks" before taking their seats. Dissatisfied with their low volume, she repeated the request.

The Seahawks played in the Super Bowl that weekend. Patricelli's stepmother said she was offended in part because the game fell on the anniversary of her stepson's death.

Grant, who was appointed to the bench in 2003, apologized the following Monday. She later filed the formal conduct complaint against herself.

Also disciplined Friday was Tacoma Municipal Court Judge David Ladenburg, who kicked a Muslim woman out of court when she declined to remove her head scarf.

The third admonishment involved Spokane County Superior Court Judge Robert D. Austin, who told jurors he was surprised by their guilty verdict in a 2005 drug case.

[JZelle]

LOL! Riggo's a trip. I used to listen to him on the drive home every Thursday afternoon. He has his own show on EPSN radio now.

[Cincinnatus]

So how many tens of thousands of your tax dollars did they waste on this "investigation"? What garbage.

[TXnMA]

Is ?Contempt of Court" a valid charge when the court is, indeed, contemptible?

[Old Student]

"Will someone show me where in our Constitution that states people have a "right" to wear a scarf in our courtrooms? I just can't seem to find it.

Thanks."

How about the fact that it's been traditional in this country for women to wear hats indoors since before we became a country? It's only been in the past, oh, 40 or so years that that tradition has been dying away.

Next, show me in the Constitution where it says ANY person is NOT allowed to wear a scarf or any other head cover, inclusive of those silly cheesehead things, in a court?

You're welcome.

Just where did you learn about the Constitution, FRiend? Inquiring minds want to know. City, State, school, and teacher's names. I want to call them.

[newfarm4000n]

Will someone show me where in our Constitution that states people have a "right" to wear a scarf in our courtrooms? I just can't seem to find it.

Thanks.


Are all headgear banned or at the judges discretion ? If so then she did the right thing.

[warrior9504]

while you were whining (like it or not that was textbook off. pass interference...you can't extend the arm) if you had been posessed by McKinney's spirit you would have called me a "zionist" and hit me with a cell phone.
Thankfully it didn't come to that!