Posted on 05/28/2012 6:05:44 PM PDT by AndyJackson
A 17-year-old high school student working two jobs to support her siblings, while juggling college-level classes, spent 24 hours in jail this week for missing too much school, KHOU 11 News reported.
Diane Tran, an 11th-grader at Willis High School in Willis, Texas said she was often too exhausted to get to school in time.
Judge Lanny Moriarty said he warned the student last month not to miss any more classes or she would be violating truancy law, KHOU 11 News reported. When she missed school again, he had her thrown in jail.
"If you let one run loose, what are you gonna do with the rest of 'em? Let them go too?" Judge Moriarty asked the TV station.
Tran said her parents divorced unexpectedly and left town, leaving it up to her to support her younger sister, who lives with relatives, and her brother's university education, KHOU 11 News reported.
Tran works full-time at a dry cleaner and weekends at Waverly Manor wedding venue, where she lives with the family that owns the business.
At school she takes several advanced placement and college-level courses, often staying up all night, a classmate, coworker and friend of Tran's told the TV station.
Judge Moriarty admitted he was using Tran as an example. Willis High School has a warning about truancy violation on its website .
According to Texas truancy law students can have no more than 10 unexcused absences - full days or part days - within six months, and no more than three absences within one month.
They also don’t judge before they have heard ALL of the facts.
Not a witch hunt from the Liberal Media.
Charges dropped!
That’s great news. Maybe there is a school counselor that can help this young lady. A million years ago or so, there were work permits issued. You went in and took your classes for a half a day and didn’t deal with the rest of the high school crap. You went to your job.I don’t know if this program still exists with the current attendance funding requirements.
The original article says she is studying AP courses. I find that admirable. But if it does, indeed, become a legal issue...she might have to get a GED and study on line. In fact, now that I think about it, I think there are an on-line high school courses in Texas?
The girl should have never been arrested and when she was because she was a minor an attorney or guardian ad litem should have been assigned to her before proceding further. The parents should have been. I hope the media follows through on about what charges they face. Article said father visits sometimes so where's Mommy?
Back years ago when school policy in this nation was made by sane persons there was also meritorious advancement at the Principal’s discretion. Meaning they could put you up a year or more ahead of others your age and grade level if you could do the curriculum at a higher grade level. I am 100% certain there are legal exemptions for this girl the school district and state can use to help her. Perhaps giving her the G.E.D. test is in the best interest of her and the state at this point.
BTW Contempt of court conviction is how this would have gotten in her adult record and not the missing school itself.
She sure got the best of Judge Doofus!
“school policy in this nation was made by sane persons”
But then the Feds got involved. But that is a different topic for a different day.
I am so glad this turned out as it did.
Giving the judge a break (I am having a soft moment) he may have been ruling by the letter of the law. But the “making an example” comment, putting her in jail and fining her was out of line, imho.
Many AP classes transfer to college credits. That may be her ultimate goal. One of my friend’s grandaughters did that and got thru college in three years.
Another’s daughter studied at home on-line until her sophomore year when she decided she wanted the social interaction. But she could have graduated on-line.
There are options. And now it sounds like she might have a few. Good for her! Stanford would be blessed to have her.
Amen!
I had been watching all day. Going to read about it.
Thanks for the ping.
Whenever his name is Googled from now on, this case is what will turn up. Now that's what I call Justice.
Well, Tex, sure there is more out there about your Justice of the Peace friend. There is more to come after I give you these first two links. The rest of us are getting to know him pretty well.
This justice of the peace ran unopposed and won by default in 2008.
Then, he got investigated for false campaign filings by the election commission:
http://montgomerytx.countymonitor.com/files/2009/05/tec_moriarty_reso.pdf
IV. Findings and Conclusions of Law
1. Failure to Properly Disclose Political Contributions
2. Failure to Properly Disclose Political Expenditures
3. Failure to Properly Disclose Contributions Maintained
4. Accepting Corporate Contributions (illegal)
V. Representations and Agreement by Respondent
By signing this order and agreed resolution and returning it to the commission:
1. The respondent neither admits nor denies the facts described under Section III or the commission’s findings and conclusions of law described under Section IV, and consents to the entry of this order and agreed resolution solely for the purpose of resolving this sworn complaint.
2. The respondent consents to this order and agreed resolution and waives any right to further proceedings in this matter.
________________
From a bio on himself:
http://www.texas-ec.org/members/localpages/midsouth/mids0207.pdf
“As a people’s court, many of the cases are rather informal in nature and can be handled as such,” said Judge Moriarty. “I try to be open and honest with an attitude that says I care.”
With a successful tenure in law enforcement including 21 years with the Houston Police Department and 10 years with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Judge Moriarty reminds himself daily, “I am a human first and a law enforcer second.”
“Since the day I decided to run for office, I have always believed in helping my fellow citizens through the law and common decency,” Moriarty said.
“Putting in a full day as a JP requires a mental focus that rivals a lot of the physical exhaustion that I have experienced in other work.”
“Our society is getting more litigious,
turning the people’s court into the lawyers’ court,” Moriarty said.
Other trends that judges must face are the continuing decline of parental guidance and reponsibility. “We are seeing too many parents serving as
their children’s friends and not their parents,” Moriarty said.
Tex
He’s not an attorney by his own admission. He never went to law school or college. He graduated high school and worked as a LEO until he was elected as Justice of the Peace in an unopposed election.
So, you are lying my friend.
cva66snipe
pls see my downposts regarding this Justice of the Peace.
Tex doesn’t have his facts correct.
As far as the example goes, that is BS. Judges need to judge each case as an individual basis.
THe law you cited also states the penalties allowable for the truancy offense. The law does not state monetary fines or jail times as possible penalties. This justice of the Peace took it on himself to impose penalties not allowed by law.
I don't know Moriarty to have an opinion of him one way or the other. I do personally have a problem tossing non-violent/non thieving offenders (but throw the book at those two types) in jail, but that's my own philosophy.
Damn it. I need my copy of that book back.
I’m not lying about a damn thing. As far as i knew he was one.
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