crossing the ethical line in problem-solving courts€¦ · 01.03.2017 · crossing the ethical...

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CrossingtheEthicalLineinProblem-SolvingCourts

Hon.PeggyFultonHora(Ret.)SecondInterna&onalConferenceonNon-AdversarialJus&ce:

Integra&ngTheoryandPrac&ceSydney,NSW,Australia

7April2017


OUT-OF-COURTCONTACTWITHPARTICIPANTS

DTCpicnic Bowlingnight


Convictedfelons

•  Maynotassociate

•  Maynothavesocialcontact

•  Ma#erofBlackman,591A.2d1339(N.J.1991);


Whatdoyouthink?

•  AUenda12-Stepmee&ng?•  Visittreatmentfacili&esusedbytheCourt?

•  Ridealongonproba&onchecks?


JusHceforVets

•  Veterans’Courtjudgepaidpar&cipanttopainthishouse

• Whatcouldgowrong?


JusHceforVets

•  Judgetookpar&cipantandhiswifetodinneratalocalrestauranttothankhimforhisservice

•  What’swrongwiththispicture?


JusHceforVets

•  JudgeinvitedVeterans’Courtpar&cipanttojudge’sfamilyevents

•  Judgeallowedhimtohandleagunandhewenttargetshoo&ngwithjudge’sson.

•  TheveteranwasafelonandOregonlawmadeitafelonyforhimtopossessafirearm.

OregonCommissiononJudicialFitnessandDisability(2016)


CumberlandCo.,NC

JusHceforVets


FourQuesHons

1.  Whydidthejudgechooseacustodialsentencewhenhecouldhaveassignedvolunteerwork,wri&nganessayabouthonesty,steppedupcounselingordrugtestsoranyvarietyofothersanc&ons?Oneofthebeau&esoftreatmentcourtsisbeingabletoindividuallycra^bothposi&veandnega&veresponsestopar&cipantbehavior.


2.Wasitappropriatetodrivethepar&cipanttojail?TheAmericanBarAssocia&onModelCodeofJudicialConductrequiresajudgeto“upholdandpromotethe,independence,integrity,andimpar&alityofthejudiciary,andshallavoidimproprietyandtheappearanceofimpropriety”(Canon1).Couldsomeone,knowingthefacts,ques&ontheindependenceandimpar&alityofthejudge?


3.Canon2,amongotherthings,prohibitsajudgefromhavingexpartecommunica&on.NodefenseaUorneynorprosecutorwaspresentatthejail.Nocourtreporterwasonhandtomakearecord.Theconversa&onwaspersonalaccordingtoSerna.Whatdidtheytalkabout?Howmightthejudgeusethisinforma&oninthefuture?WassomethingsaidthatwouldbeofinteresttotheaUorneys?


4.ThePreambleoftheCanonssays,“[Judges]shouldaspireatall&mestoconductthatensuresthegreatestpossiblepublicconfidenceintheirindependence,impar&ality,integrity,andcompetence.”DoesJudgeOlivera’sconductraiseanyques&onsinthisregard?


CanJudicialCompassionBeUnethical?

•  hUp://jus&cespeakersins&tute.com/essen&al_grid/can-judicial-compassion-unethical/


Myfavoritecase:

•  Judgeinformedarrestwarrantwouldbeserveda^ercourt

•  Didn’twantpar&cipantincustody

•  Allowedhimtoescapethroughherchambers

InreLauraD.Blackburne,StateofNewYorkCommissiononJudicialConduct,Nov.8,2005


ORJudgeSteppedDownFromDrugCourt

•  AdvisingDrugCourtpar&cipantsonhownottogetcaughtdrinkingand

•  Towatchwhattheysayonjailhousephonesbecause"deputyDAshavenothingbeUertodo"thantolistentothoserecordings.


Judgemadeapromisetoalldrugtreatmentcourtpar&cipants:“Ifyoudo90mee&ngsin90days,Iwilldocartwheelsforyou.”Hedidittwice.Inthecourtroom.Inhisrobe.

CNN:“AJudgeFlipsforSobriety”


Judicialmisconduct?

•  JudgemetwithjuvenileTxCourtpar&cipantwhowashavingbereavementissues.

•  Overdosedtwice.•  AskedtospeaktoJudgealone.•  Judgeandboywentforawalkaloneinaparkwherehediscussedthedeathofhismotherandcon&nuedlackofsobriety.


PublicReproval

•  “Failedtomaintainhighstandardsofconductsothattheintegrityandindependenceofthejudiciarywouldbepreserved…;

•  “Failedtoavoidimproprietyandtheappearanceofimpropriety,inthathefailedtorespectandcomplywiththelaw…;

•  andini&ated,permiUedandconsideredanimproperexpartecommunicaHon…

InreTaran&no,NYStateCommissiononJudicialConduct,March28,2011


IndividualmeeHngsinchambers

•  Judgemetindividuallywithproba&oners.•  Thejudgejus&fiedapor&onofhisconductonhis“sincereconcernforthewelfareofaddictsandtheirprogress.”

•  TheNebraskaSupremeCourtwasunpersuadedandfoundthatJones’conductcons&tutedaviola&onofCanon1(upholdintegrityandIndependenceofJudiciary)andCanon2inthatJonesfailedtoactinamannerthatpromotespublicconfidenceintheintegrityandimpar&alityofthejudiciary.

InreJones,581N.W.2d876(Neb.1998)


3MOREDRUGCOURTJUDGESREMOVEDFROMOFFICE


Misuseofcustody

•  “ThisAmericanLife”IraGlass(PBS)•  Holdingpar&cipantsincustodywithoutcounselorhearing•  Indefinitesentence•  Lossofprivilegeslikevisitsandphonecalls•  Incustody73daysbeforerelease•  Judgesignedconsentorderpromisingnevertositasajudgeagain

•  InreWilliams,ConsentOrder12-19-11(GA)


Failuretosupervisepersonnel

•  Failedtotrainandsupervisecourtpersonnelre:placementa^erservingjailsanc&on

•  Didn’tadvisepar&cipantsre:righttoaUorney•  Allowedunlawfuldeten&onofpar&cipantsbydrugcourtpersonnel

•  Slowtoprovidehearinga^errulesviola&ons•  CourtsuspendedbyIndianaSupremeCourt•  Judgesignedconsentorderpromisingnevertositasajudgeagain

S&pula&onJerryF.Jacobi(March4,2015)(IN)


JailedDrugCourtParHcipantsw/oJurisdicHon

•  JudgekeptDrugCourtpar&cipantspastthetwoyearlimit

•  Jailedforunspecifiedviola&ons

“Courtwon’trehearcaseforLeeCo.judge,”AP(Aug.7,2015)(MS)


PROCEDURALFAIRNESS/JUSTICE


ProceduralFairness/JusHce•  Posits that the mannerr in which justice is

done is just as important and the outcome •  “…bridges the gap that exists between

familiarity and unfamiliarity and the differences between each person….”

•  www.Proceduralfairness.org (Burke, Kevin and Steve Leban, “Procedural Fairness: A Key Ingredient in Public Satisfaction,” Court Review, American Judges Association (2007))


ProceduralFairness,cont.

Voice: the ability to participate in the case by expressing their viewpoint; Neutrality: consistently applied legal principles, unbiased decision makers, and a “transparency” about how decisions are made;


ProceduralFairness,cont.

Respectful treatment: individuals are treated with dignity and their rights are obviously protected; Trustworthy authorities: authorities are benevolent, caring, and sincerely trying to help the litigants—this trust is garnered by listening to individuals and by explaining or justifying decisions that address the litigants’ needs. (Tom Tyler, “Why People Obey the Law” 22 (2006))


DueProcessDue process is made up of:

1.  Participation: present their own view and share in decision-making, so they perceive the procedure as fair (even if it may not influence the outcome).

2.  Dignity, respect, and politeness: defendant rights and values as a competent, equal citizen, and human being are acknowledged.


DueProcess,cont.

Trust: the authority that allows the person to present evidence, displays dignity and respect, and clearly explains decisions is considered more trustworthy

OUTCOME: Greater compliance with the law.

(Tyler, 1990, 1996)


ProceduralJusHce,cont.

Put another way, the 3 “Vs”: 1.  Voice: a chance to tell their story to the decision-maker. 2.  Validation: if they feel heard and listened to then more

likely to feel a sense of validation. 3. Voluntariness: voice + validation = experience the procedure as less coercive . ► Greater compliance with the law.

(Ronner, 2001)


MayaAngelou

•  “Peoplemaynotrememberwhatyousaybuttheywillalwaysrememberhowyoumadethemfeel.”


Contactme:

Hon.PeggyFultonHora(Ret.)President,Jus&ceSpeakersIns&tute

[email protected]

crossing the ethical line in problem-solving courts€¦ · 01.03.2017 · crossing the ethical...

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