*

*
Politics Extra
Enquirer reporters give the scoop on what your politicians are doing


Jessica Brown,
Hamilton County reporter


Jon Craig,
Enquirer statehouse bureau


Jane Prendergast,
Cincinnati City Hall reporter


Malia Rulon,
Enquirer Washington bureau


Carl Weiser,
Blog editor


Howard Wilkinson,
politics reporter

Powered by Blogger

Monday, November 19, 2007

Courts: You're not my boss!

Hamilton County, in the midst of a budget crisis, wants the Common Pleas and Municipal Courts to reduce their budgets by a total of $3.6 million. Administrator Pat Thompson made several suggestions on how to do so.

But the courts aren't biting. In fact, they're flatly refusing.

"The Courts will not tolerate County Administration, which is a separate branch of government, dictating how the courts will administrate their business," said Court Administrator Michael Walton in a letter to Thompson.

He outlined why the courts legally do not have to comply with the suggestions. but noted the court remains open to other ways of helping, including increasing revenue or using money from restricted court funds.

Read the letter here.


31 Comments:

at 9:40 PM, November 19, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is typical judicial arrogance.

 
at 11:33 PM, November 19, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.

It is very clear that the writer of the letter, to the county administrator, is the typical wRong wingnut whacko, crony !

He seems to forget that Hon. Portune is the Commission President and Hon. Pepper would round out the commission majority, yet, he ranks the da, da, da whineR as top billing in his cc: (clearly, intentional disrespect) !

It is time that the court-house is shaken up and the commission could start by replacing the court administrator !

Certainly, an arrogant position which is unnecessary !

Why not outsource our judges and court house, like we do our jail ?

Abolish county ordinances and send them to State/Federal court !

PATHETIC HypocRites !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008 !

 
at 11:40 PM, November 19, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Geez, it looks like the county judges have been having drinks after work with Leis - the arrogance and aggressive stance is appalling!

I don't know what evoked more emotional response _ the laughter at what the court thinks is "reasonable and necessary" when they won't simply give up court reporters for technology or the curdling disgust with their "funding priority" against all other county departments.

Even more scary is the assertion of Walton - on behalf of judges - that they have "cooperated" with the county in "increasing revenues" to support the court's operation and the general fund.

This issue has been the topic of many oh many of cases regarding mayor's courts wherein claims were made that the court,ordering forfeitures, fines, penalties and costs - have been accused of having a conflict of interest with receiving direct benefit from those funds --- NOW, now we have our local court ADMITTING that they have used court processes to balance budgets rather than as appropriate in court cases.

Utterly disgusting!!!!!! And the arrogance to feel they can actually say it, sets them world's apart from any claims of "separation of powers" and offends the dignity of the court.

Judges --- get a fricken grip - the county is in a fiscal crisis -- show a minute sense of "judicial integrity" and do your darn part like the rest of us.

Ridiculous.

 
at 11:44 PM, November 19, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

We need to "clear the bench" and I"m not talking any sports here - these judges need a good dose of real life reality living on a budget and being part of a a struggling community.

The courts need to exercise a little "sportsmanship" and the public needs to exercise their right to vote them right off the bench.

 
at 11:45 PM, November 19, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I want the Enquirer to go to every single judge and ask them individually if they support this letter and refuse to do their part in balancing the county budget.

Get every darn one of them on record!

 
at 6:50 AM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

fine. Then simply reduce the courts' budget $3.6 million and let them figure it out for themselves.

What a joke.

 
at 7:05 AM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

But they said do a evaluation of our budget that passes the SCOTSO test and you can have your reductions; ball in the adminsitrators court.

 
at 8:34 AM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's the spirit, court-dudes!
Let's all chip in and make this county a better place to live...

 
at 9:39 AM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Off topic, but words needs to get out about the Cow Chip Young Reactionaries last night. In a return to their Hitlerian roots, the club voted out the incumbents who had worked so hard to give the club some semblance of credibility the past 2 years.

The angry white men representing the starboard side of the ship of folls spreading lies and hate on Issue 27 engineered a hostile takeover bringing in other right-wing men, mostly the angry, fat, single types who do nothing but foment the hate they hear and read online. They think listening to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannitty and reading right-wing websites make them experts on politics.

The President is Jeff Cappell, AKA Cincy Jeff, the "Republican" who bashes Jean Schmidt, sues Si Leis, and has exactly zero political experience except to blog on here from his mommy's basement in Blue Ash.

Also elected were Jason Gloyd the "realtor" from Clermont County who has done his best to make sure Hamilton COunty residents continue to flee and buy his overpriced homes.

Ronald Richmond, who has emerged from nowhere to grab the Chris Monzel mantra (act like Ward Cleaver to your face, but is just as full of hatred and bigotry as Archie Bunker deep down),

and David Kern, who just had to leave a good downtown law firm to work in a tiny unknown one. He is the son of a perennial Liberty Township Trustee.

They retained Collin Rink, worshipper of Jean Schmidt. I have no idea why. That should make the board meetings real interesting.

I swear when they talk, you can almost see Mike Harlow's puppet strings moving their mouth. Harlow, in a classic chicken move, faked illness but sent his good little wifey to make sure they did his bidding.

 
at 10:01 AM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know that this may be a repeat. I must make it very clear that the writer of the letter, to the county administrator, is the typical wRong wingnut whacko, crony ! Please understand!

It is time that the court-house is shaken up and the commission could start by replacing the court administrator and all snack bar staff!

Why not outsource our judges and court house, like we do our jail janitorial services?

Abolish county ordinances and send them to State/Federal court or directly to jail!

PATHETIC HypocRites upset me to tears!

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008 !

 
at 11:06 AM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Enquirer should ask every single one of these judges why they refuse to cut their budgets. Then when the County has to lay off Sheriff's deputies the public safety results should be put squarely at their feet.

 
at 11:43 AM, November 20, 2007 Blogger usefullidiot said...

You have better odds at finding a virgin at a moveon.org/internationalANSEWER ralley than a black-robe in the courthouse after 12:30 Friday!!!

 
at 12:16 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.

"...Anonymous said...They retained Collin Rink, worshipper of Jean Schmidt. 9:39 AM, November 20, 2007"

They all need the NAZI party (tnp), colon 'rink-a-dink' an elephant dew cleanser !

Talk about 'cut and run' !

NO ONE cares about the ineffective, wRong wingnut whackos !

PATHETIC 'HypocRites' !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008 !

 
at 2:58 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

You people are idiots. Please go back to high school and get a civics lesson. Its called seperation of powers. The judicial branch must have the funds to reasonably distribute justice. Its not like the Ohio Supreme Court hasn't upheld this forever...and it has nothing to do with judicial salaries (that is set forth by statute)

What they mean by increasing revenue is collecting court costs and probation fees. Like if you committ a crime then you should have to pay the costs of prosecuting you. Novel concept.

Too many of you are drinking the foot-tapping bold typists kool-aid.

 
at 4:58 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds to me like the judges are just as corrupt as the lawyers, cops, sherrifs, and most other politians. I think they all need to keep in mind, we, the voters who pay the bills, are tired of getting fleeced by egos bigger than life. I say f#%* them all, buy a gun, protect your own, and follow a higher rule of law.

Peace :)

 
at 5:03 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

anon 9:39 - thanks for the news - this is a pretty important story - "I wish I had read it in the Enquirer"

This is a death kneel for compassionate conservatives, Reaganites, law and order republicans and sound fiscal policy for Hamilton County -- I never thought I'd say this, but I wish Mike Allen were back in charge - where is Deters? where are the real Republicans?

(Guys, it isn't always about winning - it's about winning when you're right)

 
at 5:05 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The key here is " NECESSARY and reasonable" your "Honor". Under that doctrine - I could chop your budget by 25%- easy!

Shame on you.

 
at 6:42 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't we just have the opportunity to make a few changes this past election?

How is it that so many seem to underestimate the importance of voting in an intelligent manner, but everyone seems to over-estimate the value of their freedom of speech?

Rather than running our mouths incessantly, perhaps we should sit quietly and educate ourselves on a couple issues for a moment, before heading to the polls next time.

 
at 11:08 PM, November 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

6:42 - good point - I would love to make an intelligent vote (decision) regarding judges but how do you do that??
Aren't these people basically lawyers looking for a cushier gig?

Trying to vote for the "best" lawyer is like playing wack-a-mole.

 
at 1:09 PM, November 21, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The easiest job in the world is balif. The second easiest is judge. It's boring, but pay is OK and hours are FABULOUS!

 
at 3:08 PM, November 21, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

How do you vote intelligently for judges?

You go down to the courthouse several times and actually sit in the courtrooms. You hear how a judge conducts their court. You see what type of sentences they hand out. Are they "stern" or "sweetypies"?
Talk to the bailiff in the courtroom.
Talk to the prosecutors and the defense lawyers.
Talk to the Court Watch volunteers.

Then you can make an informed choice.

 
at 10:01 PM, November 21, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.
How do you vote intelligently for judges?

Vote for the ones that are endorsed:

Here !

 
at 11:14 PM, November 21, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Then you can make an informed choice."

Not so fast. When deals are cooked in the back room over brandy & cigars that certain individuals will run unopposed for Judge, there's no informed decision in the equation.

Regardless if you mark the square or not, that deal winner is going to ascend the bench.

Anon 1:09, I'm assuming you've never sat through 2 weeks of a murder trial on a jury panel. Actually, I'm certain you've never served on a jury. Judgeship isn't a plush job as you think it is & the pay isn't terrific either. That Judge, if in private practice as an attorney, would make 6 -10 times that amount, or more, & do less work because he/she would have an entire pool of law clerks & legal researchers at beck & call.

And Anon 3:08, the correct spelling is sweetie pie.

 
at 7:24 AM, November 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why not have Thanksgiving at the courthouse; the whole family works there.

 
at 6:02 AM, November 24, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I heard the courts are sending thier chief administrator to a $12,000 court executive training program. If true, that sounds like a mis-guided priority when sheriff deputies are being fired from their jobs.

 
at 10:35 AM, November 24, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.

"...When deals are cooked in the back room over brandy & cigars that certain individuals will run unopposed for Judge, there's no informed decision in the equation."

Let-tuce also mention that sometimes the deals are cut in 'stan the man's' front-office !

This should drive everyone crazier then 'mad-brad' !

PATHETIC !

.

 
at 1:02 PM, November 24, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is why I voted against the tax, just to watch the Repugnicants govern so ineptly and fight each other. can anyone show me a place where the Repugs have ever governed effectively?

 
at 12:41 PM, November 27, 2007 Blogger usefullidiot said...

"Let-tuce also mention that sometimes the deals are cut in 'stan the man's' front-office !"

Or in the Lincoln bedroom!!!!

 
at 11:30 PM, November 27, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.
"....Or in the Lincoln bedroom!!!! 12:41 PM, November 27, 2007..."

Not for less than $10,000 a night !

Oh, those pathetic, wRong wingnut whacko, OIL men !

1.46 gal. gas when the 'bushwhacker' took office. Now, $3.09 a gal. !

PATHETIC 'family values' !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008 !

 
at 10:27 AM, November 28, 2007 Blogger usefullidiot said...

"Not for less than $10,000 a night !"

Boy, did Stan get screwed or what!

 
at 1:17 PM, November 28, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.
"...Boy, did Stan get screwed or what! 10:27 AM, November 28, 2007..."

We heard once the judgeship was appointed ?

But, others claimed when the candidate got the shot it was after they had already blew it ?

PATHETIC 'family values' !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008 !

 
Post a Comment*

* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.

By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.

<< Home


Blogs
Jim Borgman
Today at the Forum
Paul Daugherty
Politics Extra
N. Ky. Politics
Pop culture review
Cincytainment
Who's News
Television
Roller Derby Diva
Art
CinStages Buzz....
The Foodie Report
cincyMOMS
Classical music
John Fay's Reds Insider
Bengals
High school sports
NCAA
UC Sports
CiN Weekly staff
Soundcheck