JUDGES BEHAVING BADLY: CAUGHT ON CAMERA FLATTENING TIRE IN COURTHOUSE PARKING LOT

(Stock photo—not the actual judge or the actual deflated tire)

The phrase “power corrupts” has become so cliché as to lose its meaning.

But several stories we have recently posted show how some that become anointed with power in our society (e.g. judges) can engage in some despicable petty abuses of power, including the Denver judge who illegally parked in a handicapped parking space, then threatened to have a wheelchair bound lawyer arrested if she did not move out of his way, as well as the Texas judge caught on camera keying a neighbor's car.

We are now less than happy to report a new low in the petty abuse of judicial power: a Maryland Judge who, unhappy that a lowly member of the courthouse staff (who was probably at work before the judge in question was even awake, and often works late hours making it dangerous for her to park further away from the courthouse) snagged an open-to-the-public, but close in parking space, let the air out of the poor working woman's tire—the Washington Post reports.

According to the newspaper:

“Two county sheriff's jail officers said they saw Circuit Court Judge Robert C. Nalley letting the air out of the back right tire of a 2004 Toyota Corolla parked just outside the La Plata courthouse about 3:45 p.m. Monday, according to the two sources.

“One of the officers used his cellphone camera to photograph or videotape the judge, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the probe is ongoing.

***
“Jean Washington, the owner of the Toyota, said in an interview that she had just entered the courthouse for her work shift when a sheriff's deputy alerted her, "Jean, you need to move your car. Judge Nalley's
going to let the air out of it."

"Washington, 51, said she rushed out and moved her car to a different parking lot, farther from the courthouse. When she pulled into another parking spot, another sheriff's deputy told her that her rear passenger tire was flat, Washington said.

""I was just about in tears," Washington said. "I wasn't so upset at the fact my tire was flat -- it was who did it. I'm still in shock."

“The first parking spot has no markers indicating that it or any spot is reserved for Nalley or anyone else, Washington said. She said a sign near those spots says, "Restricted Parking Only."

"Washington said no one had ever told her she could not park in that area, which is a short walk from the courthouse.

“Washington said she prefers to park there because her work shift ends at night, and other parking areas would require her to walk a longer distance to her car.”

If hiz honor is convicted of this petty abuse of power, we do not believe that he should do jail time, but rather community service—cleaning the poor worker’s home and babysitting her kids until he works off his shame.

Then and only then should the MD judicial governing authorities defrock this jerk for willful criminal conduct as well as conduct undermining the public’s confidence in the judiciary.

Now, Judge Nalley, get your shine box.