|
Being judged by a pervert is horrible. |
From the Santa Barbara News-Press
Judge Hall to change expected guilty plea
1/17/03
By HILDY MEDINA
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A Santa Barbara County judge accused of driving with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit has decided to change an expected misdemeanor guilty plea now that prosecutors are also charging her with two felony violations, including brandishing a gun to prevent a witness or crime victim from calling police.
Superior Court Judge Diana R. Hall was prepared to plead guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge stemming from her arrest last month, said her attorney, William Gamble.
But with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office now seeking four misdemeanor counts -- driving under the influence, driving over the legal limit, battery on a spouse or cohabitant, drawing or exhibiting a weapon -- and two felonies, including destruction of a telephone, Mr. Gamble says the judge will plead innocent to all six counts at her arraignment Jan. 23.
"I was trying to signal the DA that we would go with a guilty plea, to make it go faster," said Mr. Gamble. "Now there are other charges. You don't divide the pleas. It's not the way you do it."
The 52-year-old judge was charged a week ago with two felonies and four misdemeanors in connection with her drunken driving arrest Dec. 21. Earlier in the evening, authorities said, during a fight with her companion of four years inside their Santa Ynez home, Judge Hall allegedly pulled a handgun on the woman. She also allegedly smashed the telephone when the other woman tried to call authorities.
The charges were filed shortly after the judge was pulled out of the Lompoc Superior Court's criminal division and transferred to the civil law department in Santa Maria. While Judge Hall waits it out and trains for her new civil assignment, the court system is scrambling to find available jurists to fill unexpected vacancies.
Judge Hall will not be assigned cases during this period, according to court officials.
Note by Inspectorette: She is going to continue receiving her $140,000/year salary.
"We're trying to get an assignment for the next month. We're anticipating that Judge Hall will not be on the bench in February." said Darrel E. Parker, assistant trial courts executive officer.
Under the code of judicial conduct, if Judge Hall is convicted of a felony she will automatically be removed from the bench. Finding a replacement, should that be necessary, could take up to a year or more, say legal experts.
It is not known when Judge Hall, who will continue to be paid during her absence from the bench, will resume her judicial duties.
"We're going on a week-to-week basis," said Mr. Parker.
5 posted on 01/17/2003 12:15 PM CST by Inspectorette (Gay used to mean happy :-()
Judge Diana R. Hall
An Ohio native, Judge Hall graduated cum laude from California State University, Northridge, in 1972. She then attended the University of La Verne, College of Law, receiving her J.D. degree with scholastic honors.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as a Deputy District Attorney for thirteen years. Judge Hall was first appointed to the Municipal Court, Santa Maria Division, by Governor Deukmejian on December 20, 1990. In August 1998 she was elevated to Superior Court Judge.
An avid golfer and bicyclist, Judge Hall is involved in several community activities. She is an advisory board member for the Salvation Army. She is also involved with the drug DARE program in conjunction with the Santa Maria Police Department, serving as a guest speaker at local DARE graduations for various schools. She also served as past president of the Rotary Club of Santa Maria South.
Source