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Jailed Student Talks About Courtroom Snooze
Yahoo News ^ | Thursday June 20, 2002 | WLWT ChannelCincinnati.com

Posted on 06/29/2002 7:50:10 AM PDT by southern rock

A Tri-State college student who spent two days in jail last week after she dozed off in a courtroom spoke out about her ordeal Thursday.

Danielle Davidson, 22, of Hamilton, Ohio, was jailed in Richmond, Ind.

Davidson, a Miami University student, had driven a friend to the court so he could appear for a preliminary hearing on a drunken driving charge, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Brian Hamrick reported.

After she fell asleep, Judge William Hoelscher ordered her to the front row of the courtroom, where she sat for 45 minutes until Hoelscher finished his docket.

"They handcuffed me and took me to jail," Davidson said. "I cried all the way to jail."

The judge then told Davidson's friend to find another way home. He charged Davidson with contempt of court and sentenced her to 48 hours in jail.

Davidson, who said that she had never been in a courtroom before, said she was exhausted from studying for exams," Hamrick reported.

"There was no warning or anything, it's not like he said, 'Please stay awake,'" Davidson said. "I woke up, they said, 'Come with me please,' and they sat me with the other inmates."

Davidson spent two days in the Wayne County Jail for contempt of court.

Davidson's friend drove her car home after his case was continued for 30 days. She said that she is considering writing a complaint letter to Disciplinary Committee of the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications.

Hoelscher was away at a conference and wasn't available for comment, Hamrick reported. This is the judge's last term because he lost in last month's primary.

WLWT Eyewitness News 5 and ChannelCincinnati.com will continue to update this story as additional information becomes available.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: courtroom; indiana; jail; judge; student
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She said that she is considering writing a complaint letter to Disciplinary Committee of the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications.

Complaint? She should "complain" in the form of a huge lawsuit. Too bad she can't sue the judge personally. It would truly be justice if this girl ended up with everything he owned so he could live out his days homeless, eating out of dumpsters.

1 posted on 06/29/2002 7:50:10 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: southern rock
That incident certainly demonstrates the arrogant, out-of-control attitude of the judiciary.
2 posted on 06/29/2002 7:53:47 AM PDT by gg188
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To: gg188
"How dare you sleep in the presence of lord god, the judge!!"

This is the judge's last term because he lost in last month's primary.

Bitter little jerk. I so hope there is a way the judge could get jail time over this.

3 posted on 06/29/2002 7:57:08 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: southern rock
Disbarment's too good for him, but it's probably the best we can hope for. Of course, since he's on his way out of office, he'll probably get away with this free and clear.

I hope I never fall asleep in court. My wife says I snore like a bulldozer, I'd probably get 2 months instead of 2 days... :)

}:-)4
4 posted on 06/29/2002 7:59:08 AM PDT by Moose4
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To: southern rock; dighton; aculeus
This is the judge's last term because he lost in last month's primary.

Excellent news.

David Stein, "Judging the Judges" advocates a merit system instead of the current political process for judicial selection.

"Our judicial systems are in need of drastic revision.The method by which our judges are selected and the rules by which our judges are to be governed must be completely overhauled. We cannot expect any help from the judges in this process. They are generally too self-satisfied and complacent to see any need for change . . . Nor can we expect help from the bar associations and their 'Uncle Tom' leaders. Many of these are retired judges who see nothing wrong in a system which gave them the staus which permits them to earn fabulous fees as former members of the club. . ."

(Stein at p. vii). "Our courts are filled with desirable laws and undesirable judges. When Chief Justice Warren E. Burger said that the American people are 'nearing the end of their patience with the American machinery of justice,' he was in fact, indicting the judges rather than the court. . . .; it is the ineptness, the laziness, the corruption and the indifference of the judges, which are sabotaging the operation and causing the loss of patience.

". . . the loss of patience is caused by the loss of confidence in the abilities, the motives, the honesty and the ambitions of the judges. Every day, the American people read of corrupt judges, of arrogant judges, of stupid and inhuman judges, of lazy judges and of fickle judges . . ." (Stein at p.2).

5 posted on 06/29/2002 8:05:16 AM PDT by Orual
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To: southern rock
I am from Indiana.. And I tell you the truth, you can fall asleep just waiting for the court to get under way, since it can be a long time after it's scheduled to begin.

These are the actions of a stupid, arrogant man who I am sure believes he embodies "the law"

It is my fondest wish that someone else, with a title and a little authority is as cruel and inhumane to him as he was to this girl over something so minor.

Like, ohhh.. I dunno. A rogue State cop, an airport screener, a game warden, a homeowners association, or one of the license branch wenches. Anyone with a little title or a little power run completely amok would do nicely.

He needs to be taken down a notch or three.

6 posted on 06/29/2002 8:07:00 AM PDT by Jhoffa_
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To: southern rock; aculeus; Orual; general_re
As the story mentions, Hoelscher's days on the bench are numbered:

Dolehanty knocks off Hoelscher

Good riddance!

7 posted on 06/29/2002 8:09:23 AM PDT by dighton
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To: Orual
The good news is that I saw Danielle Davidson on MSNBC this morning, and she is indeed seeking legal representation. She says she was denied a phone call for her entire 2 days in jail because "the phones were down". I think she may make out well. I am just sorry it will have to be at the taxpayer's expense, and not the judge's.
8 posted on 06/29/2002 8:09:53 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: southern rock
Superior Court III The Honorable(?) William Hoelscher Presiding

Located in the southwest corner on the second floor of the Wayne County Courthouse.

Open Monday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Open Tuesday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Closed for lunch 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM

Small Claims Office hours: Monday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Scheduling and Court Office (765) 973-9269

9 posted on 06/29/2002 8:16:08 AM PDT by thepitts
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To: Jhoffa_
It is my fondest wish that someone else, with a title and a little authority is as cruel and inhumane to him as he was to this girl over something so minor.

Like, ohhh.. I dunno. A rogue State cop, an airport screener, a game warden, a homeowners association, or one of the license branch wenches. Anyone with a little title or a little power run completely amok would do nicely.

Would you settle for a contract DEA clerk with access to the NADDIS files at EPIC who can annotate any Richmond area information from informants regarding unknown subjects named *William* or *Bill* involved in narcotics distribution in that area with updated information that the last name that goes with some of those suspects may be *Hoelscher* and that an IRS Grand Audit is indicated. That should make a good wakeup call....

10 posted on 06/29/2002 8:41:39 AM PDT by archy
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To: southern rock
Cases like this are one of the reasons that I ALWAYS vote against every sitting judge. If your State allows you to vote on retention of judges, I heartily recommend this. (Even a "good" judge could use a taste of that old "Private sector" real world once in awhile...)
11 posted on 06/29/2002 8:52:05 AM PDT by RANGERAIRBORNE
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To: southern rock
.
12 posted on 06/29/2002 8:56:46 AM PDT by Red Jones
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To: archy
While I am sure he deserves it for being an arrogant boob, I couldn't do it nor advocate it.

I was kind of hoping the Creator would give him his due at some point.

He hates arrogance and men abusing their authority you know.

13 posted on 06/29/2002 9:00:28 AM PDT by Jhoffa_
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To: gg188
That incident certainly demonstrates the arrogant, out-of-control attitude of the judiciary.
That's a blanket statement. Are you sure you want to characterize the entire judiciary that way?
14 posted on 06/29/2002 9:05:54 AM PDT by Clara Lou
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To: Clara Lou
Ahhh.. FR.

The place where no hair may remain unsplit.

15 posted on 06/29/2002 9:10:16 AM PDT by Jhoffa_
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To: dighton; southern rock
"I hearby sentence myself to a term of incarceration of not less than three days..."
16 posted on 06/29/2002 9:10:45 AM PDT by general_re
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To: general_re
"hearby"...gotta stop sleeping in on weekends...
17 posted on 06/29/2002 9:11:37 AM PDT by general_re
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To: southern rock
This is one-sided news, slanted, biased, incomplete.

I won't make up my mind until I hear the WHOLE story about what went on in that courtroom.


18 posted on 06/29/2002 9:32:50 AM PDT by kitkat
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To: southern rock; dighton; Orual
A nation of laws lawyers.
19 posted on 06/29/2002 9:43:26 AM PDT by aculeus
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To: kitkat
Incomplete? How did you come to this conclusion, pray tell?
20 posted on 06/29/2002 10:04:26 AM PDT by jra
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