Judge Who Berated Hunters, Cut Sentence Loses Seat

kutv.com ^ | Nov 8, 2006 | NA

[neverdem]

Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY Voters removed a 3rd District judge who reduced the sentence of a sex offender and also caught the wrath of deer hunters and gun owners for an anti-hunting diatribe from the bench.

In Salt Lake, Tooele and Summit counties, 54 percent of voters Tuesday said Judge Leslie Lewis should not be retained, a rare defeat for a sitting jurist.

Lewis, a judge since 1991, was out of town and unavailable for comment, court spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said Wednesday.

“I just don’t like the way this one was done,” said Greg Skordas, one of 40 lawyers who bought a newspaper ad supporting Lewis. “I felt it was underhanded.”

Judicial elections rarely get headlines, but Lewis found herself in the crosshairs of opponents, who set up a Web site that showed her berating a man in an illegal hunting case. She also sent the man’s brother to a holding cell when he left the courtroom in a huff.

Separately, a week before the election, an attorney said Lewis had reduced the sentence of his client, a sex offender, to 20 years from 30 years and repeatedly discouraged him from telling prosecutors.

Salt Lake County prosecutors filed a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Commission. Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has asked an appeals court to reverse the reduced sentence.

“We helped make some of Utah’s deer hunters and gun owners aware of the fact that she was expressing extreme prejudice against a lawful activity that many of them engage in,” said N.W. Clayton, spokesman for a group called Gun Owners of Utah.

While the case involved poaching, which is illegal, Lewis said she was prejudiced against “people who kill deer” and recused herself.

“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?” Lewis asked Michael Jacobson during the February hearing.

To fill Lewis’ seat, a 3rd District nominating commission will recommend five candidates to Gov. Jon Huntsman. He will pick one and send the nomination to the Senate.

[Brilliant]

“I felt it was underhanded.”


An ignominious end for an underhanded judge. That's all.

[Petronski]

“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?” Lewis asked . . .

Right through the scope. No doubt.

[kenth]

“I just don’t like the way this one was done,” said Greg Skordas, one of 40 lawyers who bought a newspaper ad supporting Lewis. “I felt it was underhanded.”

Yeah, how dare the people vote!

[bad company]

Good news.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Ding, dong, the *itch is gone! Another small victory.

[Joe Brower]

"Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?”"

Good God. And this asshat somehow managed to be a judge for fifteen years. Shows how broken the whole system has become.

"Yes, your honor, I have seen deer alive, but I make them dead before I eat them."

[Joe Boucher]

Nah, we souldn't want to hold stupid judges accountable for their faults and stupidity now would we?
Hell the majority of judges should be sent packing.
I live in Florida, just look at the Florida Supreme Court. All should be stoned in a public square not just turned out of office.

[Bob]

“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?” Lewis asked Michael Jacobson during the February hearing.

Of course -- how else are you going to get a good aim at it? :=)

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

A lawyer felt it was underhanded.Hmmm. Now the lawyer knows how it feels.LOL

[AppyPappy]

“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?” Lewis asked

If she saw one in the road in the headlights of her Lexus, she wouldn't think they were so cute.

[Cicero]

Good. The original news articles were enough to reveal her as a complete nut job.

[batter]

Lewis also lectured another guy about how wrong it was to baptize kids under the age of 12 (much older, preferably), said something to the effect that it was brainwashing and that she (the judge) was wronged because she was baptised as a child.

This judge had some serious problems with keeping her personal opinions to herself and, brought legitimate concerns regarding the impartiality of her rulings (and overall conduct).

It's nice to see people paid a bit of attention and got rid of her.

[Bahbah]

This is great news. This woman was just awful.

[MadeInAmerica]

Hahahahahaha. I LOVE a happy ending. This nit wit was BOOTED Out of office. Hahahahahahahaha.

15 years DOWN the tube. Hahahahahahaha

[vamoose]

“Have you ever actually looked at a deer when they’re alive?” Has this judge ever looked voters in the eye?

[vetsvette]

"I live in Florida, just look at the Florida Supreme Court. All should be stoned in a public square not just turned out of office."

Who, but the hopelessly ignorant, wouldn't agree with that. I voted against every one of them, but noticed that they were all retained in office by huge margins.

I expect that most voters don't know a single thing about their competence or judicial temperament, but don't want to play any part in taking away another person's livelihood.

[stevio]

Good job Utah!

[shield]

Utah citizens did what we all need to do with these nutty activist judges. Get rid of them ASAP...

[BallyBill]

Has she ever looked at a Bean Sprout when it was a alive? Very beautiful!