Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 28, 2006 13:48:00 GMT -5
09.28.2006 - For the third time in as many weeks, Hinds County Chancery Judge William Singletary is attracting attention for his off-the-bench behavior.
Just after midnight Tuesday, Singletary was booked at the Clinton Police Department on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge after he went to a neighbor's home in Clinton because of a barking dog.
Eight hours later, Singletary was back in the courtroom, hearing at least seven cases. He did not return several calls for comment.
Police will not release details about Singletary's arrest until Clinton Chief Don Byington returns from out of town Thursday, Capt. Michael Warren said. Singletary was released from jail on his own recognizance.
"Judge Singletary would like to tell his side, but it is not appropriate to comment at this time," said Beverly Kraft, spokeswoman for the state court system. But Sarah Ammons, who lives adjacent to the judge with her husband, Josh, said a dispute involving her barking dog, and Singletary cursing at an officer led to his arrest and her receiving a $10 ticket because the German shepherd-chow mix was barking.
"He laid his hand on our doorbell and it rang and rang and rang until we finally woke up," said Sarah Ammons, adding that Singletary stuck his foot in her front door attempting to pry his way in. "He told us to shut our dog up or else he'd shut it up for us."
Singletary was driving around the block at "rapid speeds" when police arrived, Sarah Ammons said.
"Judge or not, he doesn't need to be acting like that - and I shouldn't have to feel threatened for talking about it," said Josh Ammons. "Everything that happened, he brought on himself."
The couple, who has lived on Leake Street for about a year, said none of the neighbors has complained to them about their German shepherd-chow mix.
None of the residents in the area would comment on the incident.
"(Singletary) could have handled it differently," Josh Ammons said.
Earlier this month, Singletary was accused of threatening field tax assessor Bob Merritt with a machete while Merritt was measuring a garage door on the judge's property in Clinton. Merritt later dropped the assault charge.
Days later, Singletary brought the weapon to the courtroom, prompting deputies to tell him to remove it. Merritt filed a complaint Sept. 15 with the state judicial watchdog group.
The complaint, which could prompt an investigation, likely is to be discussed at the group's meeting Oct. 13, said Brant Brantley, executive director of the Commission on Judicial Performance.
A misdemeanor offense also could prompt an investigation, but Brantley cautioned that just because a judge is convicted of a misdemeanor doesn't mean discipline will follow.
"For instance a speeding ticket would be a misdemeanor and I've never known of a commission to sanction a judge for a speeding ticket," Brantley said. "(Investigations) are done on a case-by-case basis."
Singletary, who has been on the bench for more than a decade, is unopposed on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
In Mississippi and 12 other states, discipline hearings are confidential until the commission files a recommendation with the state Supreme Court.
"The code of judicial conduct requires a judge to 'respect and comply with the law,' " said Cindy Gray, director of the Chicago-based Center for Judicial Ethics, in an e-mail response. The center follows national cases of judicial misconduct.
Improper off-the-bench conduct is included because it can "undermine the public's confidence that the judge has integrity, impartiality and temperament necessary to sit in judgment of others," Gray said.
www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS/609270386/1001/news
Just after midnight Tuesday, Singletary was booked at the Clinton Police Department on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge after he went to a neighbor's home in Clinton because of a barking dog.
Eight hours later, Singletary was back in the courtroom, hearing at least seven cases. He did not return several calls for comment.
Police will not release details about Singletary's arrest until Clinton Chief Don Byington returns from out of town Thursday, Capt. Michael Warren said. Singletary was released from jail on his own recognizance.
"Judge Singletary would like to tell his side, but it is not appropriate to comment at this time," said Beverly Kraft, spokeswoman for the state court system. But Sarah Ammons, who lives adjacent to the judge with her husband, Josh, said a dispute involving her barking dog, and Singletary cursing at an officer led to his arrest and her receiving a $10 ticket because the German shepherd-chow mix was barking.
"He laid his hand on our doorbell and it rang and rang and rang until we finally woke up," said Sarah Ammons, adding that Singletary stuck his foot in her front door attempting to pry his way in. "He told us to shut our dog up or else he'd shut it up for us."
Singletary was driving around the block at "rapid speeds" when police arrived, Sarah Ammons said.
"Judge or not, he doesn't need to be acting like that - and I shouldn't have to feel threatened for talking about it," said Josh Ammons. "Everything that happened, he brought on himself."
The couple, who has lived on Leake Street for about a year, said none of the neighbors has complained to them about their German shepherd-chow mix.
None of the residents in the area would comment on the incident.
"(Singletary) could have handled it differently," Josh Ammons said.
Earlier this month, Singletary was accused of threatening field tax assessor Bob Merritt with a machete while Merritt was measuring a garage door on the judge's property in Clinton. Merritt later dropped the assault charge.
Days later, Singletary brought the weapon to the courtroom, prompting deputies to tell him to remove it. Merritt filed a complaint Sept. 15 with the state judicial watchdog group.
The complaint, which could prompt an investigation, likely is to be discussed at the group's meeting Oct. 13, said Brant Brantley, executive director of the Commission on Judicial Performance.
A misdemeanor offense also could prompt an investigation, but Brantley cautioned that just because a judge is convicted of a misdemeanor doesn't mean discipline will follow.
"For instance a speeding ticket would be a misdemeanor and I've never known of a commission to sanction a judge for a speeding ticket," Brantley said. "(Investigations) are done on a case-by-case basis."
Singletary, who has been on the bench for more than a decade, is unopposed on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
In Mississippi and 12 other states, discipline hearings are confidential until the commission files a recommendation with the state Supreme Court.
"The code of judicial conduct requires a judge to 'respect and comply with the law,' " said Cindy Gray, director of the Chicago-based Center for Judicial Ethics, in an e-mail response. The center follows national cases of judicial misconduct.
Improper off-the-bench conduct is included because it can "undermine the public's confidence that the judge has integrity, impartiality and temperament necessary to sit in judgment of others," Gray said.
www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS/609270386/1001/news