Ala. Judge Investigated for Spanking Prisoners

By Jeralyn, Section Misconduct
Posted on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 10:45:43 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Another weird story of the day: An ethics investigation into Mobile, AL judge Herman Thomas includes these allegations:

Authorities are investigating allegations that now-suspended Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas periodically removed prisoners from Mobile County Metro Jail and spanked them in a room at the courthouse, according to courthouse sources involved in the inquiry.

Once inside the room, according to the sources, the judge would ask the young men to drop their pants and prepare to be spanked with what they described as a wooden or fraternity-like paddle.

Judge Thomas refused to comment on the allegations. The NAACP may hold a press conference this afternoon. Some of the details of the accusations appear to be corroborated:

More...

Investigating officials were able to reconcile jail logs noting when Thomas removed the young men from Metro Jail and when he returned them to custody later, sources said....In August, according to sources, a room matching descriptions provided by some of the young men was located just off a corridor that leads to the jury room connected to Thomas' courtroom.

Some of the unverified accusations include:

At least one young man has alleged that as a prelude to the paddling, Thomas told him that if he had been spanked when he was a child, he would not have found himself in jail later, according to one of the newspaper's sources.

....At least one of Thomas' accusers told authorities he was out of Metro Jail when the judge summoned him to the courthouse on a Sunday night.

< Just Some Guys And Gals* With Blogs | Another Data-Mining Program Bites the Dust >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Ala. Judge Investigated for Spanking Prisoners | 39 comments (39 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Even worse than paddling some of these (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by scribe on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 01:43:35 PM EST

defendants, it appears he was lenient. From the article:

The first set of complaints against Thomas included allegations that he helped his cousin, former school board member David Thomas Jr., substitute a week-long criminal sentence in the overcrowded Metro Jail for the less-crowded Prichard Jail.
After the change in jail venue was exposed, David Thomas was forced by Circuit Judge Joseph "Rusty" Johnston to spend another week in jail, this time at Metro.
Those complaints and others resulted in Judge Thomas' suspension from the bench earlier this year.
A second wave of ethical questions against him appeared in the summer -- bringing the number of complaints to 30. The later allegations accused Thomas of usurping cases from his fellow judges on the circuit bench and, in some cases, changing sentences to less severe penalties.

Now, in my state, if you serve a determinate sentence and the Court is dissatisfied with the sentence, they can't give you another week to ease their discomfort. Even if it's your cousin who takes you from the overcrowded hellhole and has you serve your time in another, less crowded, jail. Something about double jeopardy....

Changing sentences to less severe penalties, without more, isn't necessarily unethical. Except, it would seem, in Alabama.

As to spanking defendants on a Sunday night in the Courthouse, I had no idea Sunday was a workday in Alabama....

: And on the seventh day, God rested. (none / 0) (#10)
by oculus on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 03:48:38 PM EST

: Alabama is scary (none / 0) (#34)
by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:13:39 AM EST

I used to say I was going to pay teenagers to drive me around at midnight while I drank martinis and changed all the church signs to say "other things" but understanding the justice system down here has caused me to reconsider ;). And angry passive aggressive teenagers would probably set me up for some sort of sting and they would all probably be invited to the viewing of my spanking!

Alabama on my mind (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by janinsanfran on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 05:08:45 PM EST

Alabama is a wacky place. It has the most convoluted, antiquated constitution of any state. Am working with a group that hopes to redo it via forcing a constitutional convention.

In many places that's the level reform has to take, not just replacing Repubs with Dems or vice versa.

This episode does sound perverse. Hope folks will let us know how it plays out in the ethics hearing.

: Thank you for trying to help Alabama (none / 0) (#35)
by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:19:41 AM EST

Jan. Those who must live in Alabama are grateful.

Let me Guess... (none / 0) (#1)
by bselznick on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:23:36 AM EST

Judge either is a GOPer or he was appointed by a GOPer. That's just an educated guess.

Ya think? A story on TL that (however accurately) (none / 0) (#3)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:31:00 PM EST

paints "GOPer's" in a bad light? How prescient of you.


"Paint"? (none / 0) (#4)
by jondee on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:43:13 PM EST

More like filling in the self drawn bold outlines.


: No arguments there. (none / 0) (#7)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 01:18:41 PM EST

Nope (none / 0) (#14)
by beth124 on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:36:39 PM EST

Actually he is a Democrat. Always has been. The NAACP is supporting the judge. See post below.


They like a good ole fashioned spankin (none / 0) (#2)
by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 11:36:14 AM EST

in Alabama. In the state of Colorado such punishment done to children isn't even considered in public school but here in Enterprise if you want your child off the corporal punishment list you have to fill out the paperwork. Don't forget to do it every school year or else junior might get a lickin. They also don't whip the kids in such a fashion that they see it happen but they can all hear it! Bothers the hell out of me, neanderthall way of handling children. Perhaps has something to do with the crime rates in my area verses other areas of the country. If people are treated like animals they will reward you by acting like them!

Preferred punishment of miscreant (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by oculus on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:46:47 PM EST

high school boys in the Midwest in the 50s. Fortunately, no paddling of girls. No due process either.


: Three licks or 45 minutes (none / 0) (#26)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 06:11:23 PM EST

detention hall...what self respecting boy would take detention??

Speaking of spanking.... (none / 0) (#25)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 06:08:03 PM EST

I seem to remember....'

Are you the Judge im drag??

;-)

Maybe it's the water??


And look at what has happened Jim (none / 0) (#33)
by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:08:14 AM EST

Did my threat of a spanking improve your behavior one iota? Nooooooooooo

Now if I would have threatened time out you could have grown into a humanity embracing love gushing liberal. I have no one to blame but self. I'm sorry I threatened you with bodily harm Jim. I hope that someday you will be able to recover from my threat and blossom into the joyous love filled being that is within you. I will go forward from here now and do my best to sin no more.


: I wasn't thinking of "punishment." (none / 0) (#38)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:07:50 PM EST

;-)
As for "liberal."
I be one.... a Social Liberal.... Truth, justice and the American Way.
Try it. You'll like it.

Larry (none / 0) (#6)
by koshembos on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 01:03:05 PM EST

We didn't Larry Craig is a judge in Alabama.

Alabama = Rove (none / 0) (#9)
by kovie on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 03:41:30 PM EST

Turdblossom MADE the Alabama GOP and this guy is almost certainly a protege of his. Hmm, I wonder where and from whom he learned to spank grown men...

Research before you comment (none / 0) (#11)
by beth124 on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:19:59 PM EST

Judge Thomas is a Democrat. He has always been a Democrat. State judges in Alabama are elected. He ran and was elected as a Democrat. The GOP did not place Judge Thomas in office.

Here is much more on this (none / 0) (#12)
by beth124 on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:27:36 PM EST

From the CBS affiliate in Mobile, AL:

The NAACP is supporting Circuit Judge Herman Thomas, who is accused of paddling jail inmates in his office. At a morning news conference, the Mobile, Alabama chapter of the NAACP called for a Department of Justice investigation and alleges District Attorney John Tyson of coercing information from inmates. NAACP President Jimmie Gardner says inmates who thought they were attending a court hearing for their own case, were instead interrogated by D.A. John Tyson without an attorney present and promised lighter sentences in return for information. Gardner calls the interrogations a "violation of civil rights", and claims one inmate, in a letter to his attorney, claims he knows nothing about paddling incidents.

The Mobile Press-Register is reporting Thomas is accused of periodically removing prisoners from Mobile County Metro Jail and spanking them in a room at the courthouse. According to the Press-Register, once inside the room, the judge would ask the men to drop their pants and prepare to be spanked with what was described as a wooden paddle. Judge Thomas told the Press Register that he did not have any comment on the allegations. Sources also say that between six to 12 men have shared their accounts with investigators.

Thomas is preparing for an October 29th judicial ethics trial in Montgomery that could remove him from the bench permanently. Those ethics charges allege that he helped his cousin, former Mobile County School Board Commissioner David Thomas, Jr. Investigators say Judge Thomas removed David Thomas from the crowded Mobile Metro Jail to the Prichard City Jail when Thomas was ordered to serve a week long sentence for leaving the scene of an accident that injured a little girl.

Don't try to confuse the issue with facts. (none / 0) (#17)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:43:58 PM EST

Rove did it.


: No. It was Cheney. (none / 0) (#27)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 06:13:27 PM EST

I'll fill in for Scribe here (none / 0) (#13)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:35:30 PM EST

If he is a Democrat, he's no doubt a Rethug plant covertly embedded to embarass the Democrats. If you need evidence to accept the possibility the Rethugs are behind this then obviously you can't think for yourself.

: Research it more (none / 0) (#15)
by beth124 on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:38:03 PM EST

Judge Thomas was not placed by anyone and you most likely would be shocked to know the NAACP is supporting him.

You assume that, (none / 0) (#16)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:43:22 PM EST

but how can you deny the likelihood that the evil Rethug's recruited Thomas to run for office as a Democrat and then act out so it would look bad and they just activated him now to take attention away from Craig? doesn't it strike you as just a little to conveninet that this would suddenly come to light now?

: no (none / 0) (#18)
by beth124 on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 04:50:25 PM EST

especially since I live in Mobile and practice law in Mobile. Judge Thomas' woes are not something new that surfaced today. I did not just read about him for the first time and I certainly did not jump to conclusions.

Yes, but what was going on when the other (none / 0) (#19)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 05:02:22 PM EST

troubles surfaced? Here's a clue: The War. This spanking stuff had to be added now to coincide with Craig because, let's face it, spanking boys in a hidden room is as kinky sounding as soliciting sex in a public rest room. The run of the mill corruption stuff was good enough until the republicans needed something salacious to distract people from Craig.

A primer: When Republicans do something bad it is because Republicans are evil. When it appears that a Democrat might have done something wrong it's almost always a GOP dirty trick engineered to fool people.

Rove did it. (none / 0) (#21)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 05:10:49 PM EST

They just want you to think (none / 0) (#22)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 05:16:55 PM EST

Rove is the mastermind. He's actually an expendable pawn. His resignation was just orchestrated to maintain the illusion that anyone has any free choice and disguise the reality that a handful of unspeakably evil Republicans control everything. Be thankful you don't know who is really behind it, because if you ever do learn, they will have you killed. And, yes, of course, it will be made to appear as though a Democrat was culpable, so they not only get rid of you but also further their devious agenda.


Who's expendable pawn? Satan's of course. (none / 0) (#23)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 05:24:33 PM EST

beth, Decon's been pulling your leg. Thanks for the research.

A black, gay, Dem judge who uses his position of absolute authority to sexually abuse young male prisoners.

Nah, he must be a Rethug.


Fellas, fellas.... (none / 0) (#24)
by kdog on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 05:37:57 PM EST

its obvious this is a rethug conspiracy to frame a fine Democratic judge and get the spotlight off of the non-criminal Larry Craig. Jeez...this is leftwing-nut 101 stuff guys:)


The whole thing is fake. (none / 0) (#28)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 06:16:41 PM EST

Something like this could only happen in NEW YORK CITY!

And obviously caused by Rudy...


In NYC.... (none / 0) (#29)
by kdog on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 08:37:17 AM EST

the law sticks the paddle up your keister.


Hi big boy.. (none / 0) (#31)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 08:58:51 AM EST

;-)


That's supposed to be satire (none / 0) (#32)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:00:46 AM EST

That's supposed to be satire before anyone goes off about torture, etc.


Discovery Channel.... (none / 0) (#36)
by kdog on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 09:37:26 AM EST

has Shark Week....this must be dirty old man week on Talkleft between Judge Spanky and Senator Tearoom.


: Watch who you call dirty (none / 0) (#39)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 04:09:08 PM EST

Yes (none / 0) (#30)
by Deconstructionist on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 08:39:28 AM EST

I was engaging in satire intended to mock some of the more ludicrous posters here.

This one is straight.

Sarc:

Why do you label the judge "gay"? And, while it is no doubt "abuse, if true, why do you conclude it is "sexual" abuse?

It's certainly possible based on what I read that the judge is "straight" and that there is no sexual gratification involved in these incidents but only a severely warped idea as to who gets to apply "correction" and what the acceptable methods of correction include. I can imagine a judge who simply took the "old school" approach (way) too far and believed the men should have been whipped as children by parents so he was belatedly (and illegally) assuming the role of the strict disciplinarian father.


: Pure speculation on my part Decon, (none / 0) (#37)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 11:09:11 AM EST

pure speculation.