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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas judge forced to resign after caught texting instructions to assistant DA during trial
Oh, the hilarity that is the phrase "criminal justice system." Talk to any defense attorney and they'll tell you how the deck is stacked against defendants and defense lawyers. The ideal of "innocent until proven guilty" has become little more than a disclaimer tacked onto cop-centered reality shows. Defendants are guilty until the jury is somehow tricked by the defense into handing down a "not guilty" verdict. A lot of effort goes towards dissuading defendants from even making it this far, as prosecutors will present worst-case scenarios comprised of every violation conceivable in order to get an agreement to plead guilty to a lesser charge.
The prevailing perception that the person charged is guilty, with the only answer yet to be determined is how guilty, makes defending arrestees an uphill battle. Judge (former judge) Elizabeth Coker took this uphill battle, increased the grade to 85 degrees, covered it with a sheet of ice and sprinkled it with a 50/50 blend of Teflon and motor oil.
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The agreement comes in the wake of a recent investigation revealing Coker texted instructions from the bench to a Polk County Assistant District Attorney who was assisting in the prosecution of a case in Coker's court.
The good news is that Coker is being stripped of all of her judicial power. Once the resignation goes through, she won't even be able to perform a wedding. The bad news is that this texting incident was only one of several alleged incidents in which Coker undermined the justice system. [Perhaps someone should have passed her, and any prosecutors dealing with her courtroom, a copy of this letter from a Texas DA warning his staff away from ex parte discussions...]
More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/24/texas-judge-forced-to-resign-after-caught-texting-instructions-to-assistant-da-during-trial/
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)How about fired and busted and sued by years and years of defendants?
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)cloudbase
(5,520 posts)She should be disbarred and indicted.
rug
(82,333 posts)I have a jury out now on a defendant indicted for sending indecent material to a minor on facebook.
This is worse.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)monmouth3
(3,871 posts)laserhaas
(7,805 posts)What is unusual - is that the bad faith justice was "caught" red-handed.
THANKS for posting this thread!
dickthegrouch
(3,175 posts)That should make short shrift of her pension and any other ill-gotten gains.
SDjack
(1,448 posts)polk county resident
(1 post)I agree with many of the people that have posted on here...Judge coker has also ruined my families life. She sentenced my 37 year old brother 99 years for allegedly sexually abusing his own daughter. There was no evidence presented that he committed this crime that he was accused of and the examiner that examined the child stated in court that the child had not been touched. But yet her and Lee Hon can ruin someone's life behind false accusations. On top of that the whole court proceedings were unethical. For instance all during the trial there were jokes and laughter going on from Coker as well as the district attorney (Lee Hon). Another thing that took place that I was uncertain about was the fact that my brother asked for another attorney instead of the present court appointed lawyer and she told my parents that the only way that he could change lawyers is if a new lawyer is present before the trial the next day. I don't give credit to Karma, I give all credit to God because he said in his word that "you will reap what you sow." In my opinion Coker was able to get off easy but her judgement day is coming and she will have to answer to the almighty God for all of the many lives in Polk County, San Jacinto County, Trinity County, and other counties that she have destroyed behind her coruptness!!!
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)I hope that your brother can find the help he needs.
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