Posted on 07/26/2007 8:22:01 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
A Maryland lawmaker is seeking to remove the judge who dismissed a Montgomery County case because of delays in securing an interpreter for the trial of a Liberian immigrant accused of raping and repeatedly molesting a 7-year-old girl.
"We have created an attitude that no matter how important and grievous a crime is, that a technicality takes precedence over the rights of the victim," said Delegate Patrick L. McDonough, Baltimore County Republican. "So any time a defendant comes into court and has a language problem, there's a good chance they could have their case dismissed."
Circuit Court Judge Katherine D. Savage ruled last week that the delays associated with finding an interpreter who spoke the African language Vai violated Mahamu Kanneh"s right to a speedy trial.
Mr. McDonough yesterday said the decision to drop the case set a dangerous precedent in Maryland, and he would seek to have her impeached. He said he will introduce a resolution to remove Judge Savage when the House of Delegates convenes in January. If the resolution were passed by the House, the Senate would decide whether to remove the judge.
It would be the first time since the Civil War that the legislature removed a judge. The House of Delegates last year rejected a lawmaker's call to impeach a Baltimore circuit judge who ruled that the state's same-sex "marriage" ban was unconstitutional...
His trial was delayed as prosecutors and defense attorneys argued whether Mr. Kanneh, who attended high school and community college in Montgomery County, needed an interpreter...
Circuit judges in Maryland serve 15-year terms. Judge Savage, one of 21 judges on the Montgomery County Circuit, joined the court in 2002.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
“We have created an attitude that no matter how important and grievous a crime is, that a technicality takes precedence over the rights of the victim,” said Delegate Patrick L. McDonough, Baltimore County Republican. “
He’s right. The legal “profession”, courts and judges have turned justice into an impassive parlor game.
The minute you read that he attended US high school and community college...then this episode isn’t that difficult to decide. The judge in this case...needs a two-year suspension from his job to regain insight into the real world. If I went to China...attended high school there and graduated, and attended Chinese college...then they wouldn’t dare dismiss charges against me.
The DA is just pathetic IMO.
I hope the effort picks up steam. In a civilized state it might work. But Maryland?
I dunno - - I hear that place is pretty hopeless.
SHE needs more than a two-year suspension from HER job. Judges are supposed to exercise judgment. She has shown the world that her judgment is seriously flawed.
It's the DA's fault, not the judge's.
They have 6 months to try him unless he waives his right to a speedy trial. If the defendant asks for delays, it is the prosecutor's job to ensure that his waiver of speedy trial rights is before the court. A court-appointed shrink said that he needed an interpreter. It's not the defendant's job to help the prosecutor by arguing otherwise. It is an adversarial proceeding, after all.
So the defendant gamed the system. It sucks but the alternative is throwing away my constitutional rights because "we know he's guilty".
Once again, you're prejudging the guy. You have no idea if he did it. People like you are scary.
In public schools who needs English?
Are you an attorney? Honestly?
No.
By reading you other posts I do believe you are a Lawyer. Only Lawyers speak as you do. ( screw the victims and protect the criminal)So what law office are you with?
As I said, no, but I’m very wary of allowing the obviously incompetant government much leeway when it comes to criminal cases. The government abuses its tremendous power enough.
Doh! A lawyer would have “incompetent” correctly. I hate that.
Private reply sent.
No, BearCub. That was Fish Hawk, not I, who posted the prior post. You said that you’re not an attorney and consequently not a member of the Maryland Bar and that is sufficient.
Get her, McDonough!
No. Attorneys don’t always spell well either.
Why do you ask? What does being a member of the Maryland bar have to do with my personal opinion on this? Just curious.
lawmaker opportunist.
There might be credible legal issues. I doubt very much it was “just” the translator. I suspect the prosecutor and the clerks dragged their heels too.
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