'Go after ACORN,' judge says

[sisters6]

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune





http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_631577.html


'Go after ACORN,' judge says

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, June 30, 2009


A district judge who held another ACORN worker for trial Monday on election law violations urged prosecutors to go after the real culprit, the organization that employed him.

"Somebody has to go after ACORN," Senior District Judge Richard H. Zoller said about the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

"It's happening all over the country. All you have to do is turn on the television," he said, referring to voter registration fraud charges brought recently against ACORN and its workers in Nevada.

"We will," Allegheny County Detective Robert F. Keenan promised as he wrapped up his testimony.

A spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said following the hearing that the county's investigation into members of ACORN and their activities during the 2008 campaign "remains open and active."

"(T)here is quite a bit of activity aimed at determining if anyone else should be charged," Zappala's spokesman Mike Manko said.

Eric E. Jordan, 20, of North Braddock became the sixth person ordered to face trial in Allegheny County. He is charged with soliciting a voter registration and interfering with county voter registration officials by submitted applications for himself in order to meet his quota for registrations. A seventh defendant faces a preliminary hearing next month. ...........................

Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_631577.html

---

[maxsolomon]

1. oh, well if it's on the TeeVee, they must be guilty

can i guess which station you watch, judge zoller?

[earthboundmisfit]

9. Yessirree

Bet he's an avid FAUX watcher!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. -------------->

[azurnoir]

7. Limpballs has a love a child?

who'da thunk it

[Arkana]

30. Actually he looks like a less manicured Sean Hannity.

[azurnoir]

31. you have a point

maybe they mated

[Arkana]

32. Oh god, the slapping of the flesh...oh...oh God, I'm gonna barf.

:puke:

[Robb]

25. Funny thing, that.

:D

[Xipe Totec]

3. All you have to do is turn on the television...

So now judges base their opinions on Teevee, instead of testimony....

:eyes:

[JuniperLea]

4. Idiots...

What a waste of time, money, and resources.

Registration means nothing; you have to show an ID in order to vote, so I doubt anyone is actually going to be able to vote under the name "Mickey Mouse."

This stupidity just feeds the 23%ers who are still demanding a birth certificate, and call Obama a Muslim with Fundy Christian Extremist tendencies.

They just cannot accept that there are more of us than there are of them, and that Obama won the damn election.

[MADem]

45. I don't have to show an ID to vote.

I have to recite my address, and then my name, and they put a check mark next to my name and hand me a ballot.

No ID.

[lindisfarne]

5. Sounds like the judge needs to recuse himself - judges are supposed to be unbiased.n/t

[jaysunb]

6. Biased AND ill informed

:evilfrown:

[struggle4progress]

38. Yep. And the defense damn better ask for it timely

[The Second Stone]

8. Judge needs to be impeached

because you do not order charges brought on the basis of what is on TV. That is not proper evidence to consider for probable cause or any other reason. This judge is not a judge.

[lpbk2713]

10. A Shittohead judge. No doubt about it.

Who knew they came in all flavors?

[Ian David]

11. "It's happening all over the country. All you have to do is turn on the television,"

I'm gonna guess his television is set to Fox "News."

[Doremus]

12. There's a judge in Pennsylvania who needs to be impeached.

Ooh, call out the cavalry. A worker registered HIMSELF! Will the republic ever recover????

:eyes:

[rasputin1952]

13. I don't recall what happened to those R employees who tossed several

hundred or thousand voter registration cards into the dumpster behind their HQ's.

I advocate free and fair elections, I don't care which side of the aisle the "bad gys" are on...but voter fraud has been an R tactic for quite a few years, (the D's are not historically clean either)...but the R's seem to avoid prosecution.

If this judge made this statement, (as it is reported), from the bench...he needs to be impeached and disbarred.

[roseBudd]

22. Google Nathan Sproul

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/20/mccain-employing-gop-oper_n_136254.html

[rasputin1952]

29. I didn't see where this slug was charged, much less tried or...

convicted for his nasty work...:shrug:

Real nice guy there...slimy bottom feeder...a slug that needs a salt enema...:grr:

[Downwinder]

14. They going to go after the Republican party?

They have had convictions.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. ACORN just won a big case in MO

I guess this judge doesn't keep up with the latest rulings.

[No Elephants]

39. 'Cause they're not on TV.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. Is this the same Judge?

The Judicial Conduct Board filed a formal complaint against District Justice Richard Zoller alleging that he was demeaning, impatient, undignified and used vulgar language in addressing two constables during the course of an arraignment of a defendant. Following trial, the Court concluded that District Justice Zoller had engaged in conduct in violation of Rule 4C of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of District Justices and which was prohibited by Article V, §17(b) of the Pennsylvania Constitution and that the conduct was such that brought the judicial office into disrepute. Following a hearing on the issue of sanctions, the Court concluded (1) the respondent should remain under appropriate medical supervision and (2) no sanction was imposed.
http://www.cjdpa.org/decisions/jd00-03.html




And another one here:

District justice faces new misconduct probe

Verona's Zoller says charges are baseless

Friday, June 14, 2002

By Mike Bucsko, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

The Judicial Conduct board again is investigating complaints against Verona District Justice Richard Zoller, five months after Zoller appeared at a sanctions hearing in a prior disciplinary case.

The board, which investigates allegations of misconduct against judges and district justices, is taking a close look at the complaints because of Zoller's reported use of alcohol in two incidents.

In the past several months, the board has shown less tolerance of behavior that involves the use of alcohol by Allegheny County's judicial officers.

In the past month, the board has filed charges against a judge, H. Patrick McFalls Jr., and Millvale District Justice Richard McCarthy because of behavior that reportedly occurred while they were drunk. In addition, former Mt. Lebanon District Justice William Ivill III resigned last month while he was under investigation for allegations that he was drunk on the bench.

Zoller, 60, said yesterday that he did not drink for 10 years before he began again recently. Zoller acknowledged he was drinking "but not drunk" in two of the incidents under review by the Judicial Conduct Board.
http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_east/20020614zoller5.asp

[rvablue]

19. Excellent catch, Lone Star! +100!!! n/t

[Sub Atomic]

27. The one and only!

Aren't Republican wingnut judges unbelievable?

Of course he's above the law just like every Republican in the world, but who am I to judge?

[neverforget]

34. What's his FreeRepublic screenname?

What a loon!

[happyslug]

35. Actual Opinion

http://www.cjdpa.org/decisions/fulltext/jd00-03-01-op.html

I see he is the Magistrate District Judge for the Boroughs of Oakmont and Verona in Allegheny County. The City of Pittsburgh is the largest municipality in Allegheny County and the county seat. Under Allegheny County Rules, every District Justice MUST spend a one night a month is the Magistrate Justice Judge's Downtown Pittsburgh Office (When I was in Law School that was in the Public Safety Building of the City of Pittsburgh, but since that time a new Court has been built in Downtown Pittsburgh to handle cases where the District Justice must hear the case).

Under PA Law anyone who is arrested must be arraigned before a Judge of a Magistrate District Judge within six hours of their arrest. Allegheny County adopted the above rule (i.e. the a Magistrate District Judge must spend one night a month in downtown Pittsburgh) so that any Police officer who arrested someone knew if all the other Magistrate District Judges offices were closed he could still take the suspect downtown to be arraigned before a Magistrate District Judge (Often Abbreviated to MDJ).

In this case, this the above MDJ was the MDJ on duty that night and was upset that he had to put aside his dinner to arraigned a suspect brought in by two Police Officers. He verbally attack both officers, accusing them of doing the arrest for the money and otherwise verbally attacked the Officers.

[happyslug]

37. He is now a "Senior Magistrate District Judge" i.e. over age 70,

http://www.yourpennhills.com/pennhillsprogress/article/judge-adjusts-addition-cases-formerly-handled-verona-court

That he is over 70 does not bother me, what bother me is he seems to have a record of acting badly. As a Senior Magistrate District Judge he no longer has a district, but is assigned to fill in for other Magistrate District Judges who for some reason, needs someone to cover for them (i.e. sick or on Vacation).

[No Elephants]

41. Too bad Roche (author of the article in the OP) apparently did not Google.

Not much of a news reporter.

[dysfunctional press]

44. "i ain't drunk...i'm just drinkin'"

:rofl: :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjVfc8-Y7sQ

[Political Heretic]

50. Outstanding find!

[KamaAina]

17. Pgh. Tribune-Review is RW billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife's cat box liner

he who tried to tear down Pres. Clinton with the 'Arkansas project". He bought up a bunch of suburban Pittsburgh shoppers' papers and cobbled them together into the Tribune-Review. It is about as useful a source as the Washington ("Moonie") Times. :eyes:

The only legitimate Pittsburgh daily is the Post-Gazette.

[greyghost]

24. Very true. Scaife got his opening when The Pittsburgh Press went

under after a strike several years ago. As you stated he bought up a bunch of locals mainly The Greensburg Tribune-Review and rechristened it The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It is a neo-nazi fascist rag in the mold of The
Washington Times. It was one of their reporters who Teresa Heinz blasted during Kerry's campaign.:rofl:

[spag68]

43. Scaife

He may be getting his, as there is on going litigation involving a wife, a divorce, and money wasted on the newspaper.

[tomm2thumbs]

18. TeeVee or Fox TeeVee? I can only wonder

no wonder

[Libertas1776]

20. What a fucking crock

Obviously this "judge" has a political agenda and personal vendetta. He should be kicked off the bench or at least be investigated.

[jedr]

21. First, if you don't know; the Pittsburgh Trib' is owned by;

Richard Mellon Scaife. Yes the same Mellon's who that you read about in your history books...the same who pumped millions of his own money into keeping Rush on the air and impeachment Clinton and member of the Heritage Foundation. Yes, they will go after people who volunteered their time to help make a better America and don't have two nickles to scrape together to defend themselves, but still nothing is said about the massive voter fraud committed by the Republican Party in the last three "elections".:nuke:

[depakid]

53. Yep- which isn't surprising considering the content of the article

[Hermit Extrovert]

23. Yeah, someone needs to go after groups like ACORN...

for paying their workers squat and making them work under such enormous pressure that they fake results.
Someone like labor boards.

My gf and I worked for "Working America" for two days - long enough to find out how they treated their workers.
It was common practice to go into Spanish speaking neighborhoods and hand people clipboards without explaining anything in the language.
Canvassers practiced the Spanish for "just sign".
Hell, working for a group controlled by the unions - one would expect to get a potty break from time to time.
They also tried to pay us some sort of flat fee in place of our wages for the first few days we worked - funny, when
we decided to leave, we got paid for the hours we worked - they knew we were on to them.

I feel bad for the workers who are on trial for such petty nonsense. So-called "election fraud" means nothing - but every time I read one
of these articles from the "good democrats" out there - well, let's just say I've yet to hear anyone comment who cares about or understands
just what motivates the workers to forge results - it ain't political conviction - they're scared of being homeless!

Not that the stupid Republicans care about that, obviously.

[OwnedByFerrets]

26. But, but, but all activists judges are libruls.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[happyslug]

33. Please, Note he is NOT a real "Judge", he is just a Justice of the Peace in PA

In the 1960s, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a law changing the name of Justice of the Peace to District Justices and made them responsible for a fixed district within a county. Prior to that reform a Justice of the peace had jurisdiction within the entire County he was elected in, even if he was only elected within a small sub-district of that county.

About four years ago, the State legislature changed the name again, this time to "Magistrate District Judge" (often abbreviated MDJ). A MDJ, like the previous District Justices and Justices of the Peace do NOT have to have any legal education, they just have to win election and then take a four week course on how to be a MDJ. Yes, you can be a high school drop out a be a MDJ. There is no law that say otherwise in Pennsylvania, all that you need to do is get elected. In my home county NOT a single MDJ has more then a Bachelor degree, none have any legal background (one has a brother who is a real judge and a brother who is an real attorney, but the MDJ has NO legal training himself, other then the four week course and. I suspect, a collage degree).

Given the background of MDJs, the state of Pennsylvania has always permitted absolute appeals from their decisions to the court of Common Pleas. Such appeals are of right i.e. you get a new hearing, not a review of what happened in front of the MDJ. Under state law this is do to the fact you have no right to a Jury with a MDJ, and Pennsylvania law is quite clear you have an absolute right to a Jury trial and thus MDJ do NOT provide "Due Process". Under Federal Law, MDJ in Pennsylvania are viewed as NOT giving "Due Process" do to the lack of any way to do discovery prior to trial, this came up under Bush I when he tried to have Justices of the Peace do evictions from Public Housing. NO Federal Due Process, such courts can NOT be used to evict people from Public Housing paid for by the Federal Government. Congress then passed a Federal Law saying tenants could ask for discovery as part of the eviction process and if provided by the Public Housing agency then the requirements of Federal Due Process were meet (or the MDJ could dismiss the action do to lack of Discovery by the Public Housing agency).

Just a comment on this "Judge" and background a person who who is such a "Judge". He is NOT a real Judge, as that term is used by most people, he is just your local magistrate or Justice of the Peace. Any real actions, other then summary crimes, warrants etc must be handled by Common Pleas court NOT MDJ.

[shadowknows69]

36. Of course they have to go after ACORN

They empower the voter. Can't be having that.

[rug]

40. Zoller's unfit.

http://www.cjdpa.org/decisions/fulltext/jd00-03-01-op.html

He's also not an attorney.

[No Elephants]

42. Kudos to Lone Star, happyslug and others who researched.

[pam4water]

46. More of Fox News and Lou Dobbs pioson spreeding...

[pam4water]

47. Isn't that biasing the jury pool or something?

[Senator]

48. No, no ... he said "Somebody has to GET ME to Acorn."

He was just slurring a bit.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=acorn+alcohol+treatment+pennsylvania&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=4637275044362411412">Here's a map.

--

[Political Heretic]

49. TOTAL. BULLSHIT.

I hope they do "go after ACORN" so we can put this bullshit to rest for good.

[C_U_L8R]

51. Hey Judge... FAUX is bad for teh brainz

use your goddamn clicker

[canichelouis]

52. Oh yea, DA Zappalla will work on this case

Yet, his brother, the white collar criminal who bribed those 'put kids in private jails for money' PA so -called judges, he's a "victim" and the case is dropped. Un-fucking-believable!

[humbled_opinion]

54. So its only judicial activism when Liberals do it? n/t