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Showing Original Post only (View all)Penelope Soto, my hero: Florida teen flipping the finger at abusive judge [View all]
Last edited Thu Feb 7, 2013, 09:50 AM - Edit history (1)
as extensively discussed in this thread has now had a second hearing before another judge who set her bond at $5,000 and agreed to drop the drug case against her (possession of a few Xanax pills) if she successfully completes a drug program:
To my great surprise (well, in some cases) 9 out of ten posters celebrated and agreed with the abusive judge who in the first bail hearing had doubled the amount requested by the prosecution to $10,000 on a whim and for no good reason at all, ensuring that she would stay in jail for a while, I suppose.
She was obviously shocked and upset over this and when she was walking out of the room, she flipped the bird and said quietly "fuck you". Up to this point she had been nice and friendly, going out of her way to be courteous, honest and open - even though she is being held in jail, made to wear a ridiculous jump suit and even more ridiculous double sized slippers, and likely didn't get all that much sleep the night before judging by the way she looks and acts. Watch the video:
The judge OTOH is arrogant and obnoxious from the start. When she doesn't quite get what she is supposed to say about the "value" of her jewelry and nervously laughs, trying to put a friendly face on her confusion, he reminds her that "you are not in a nightclub" - the only place, perhaps, he imagines where a woman is supposed to be nice and charming. She politely apologizes for laughing, says her jewellery is worth "a lot of money". Rudely he inquires "like what". Can a question get any more unspecific? But she does come up with an appropriate comparison, taking the question literally: "like Rick Ross". Now the judge is completely lost. "Uh?" he mumbles - of course he has not the faintest idea who Rick Ross might be - and adds another impertinent question, whether she is on drugs?
At this point, a PD tries to intervene and offers to be appointed to "make it easier" for the court. But the judge cannot get over himself. "I'm not going to appoint you, she says she has a substantial amount of jewelry!" Snark, snark, snicker, snicker. In the end, he dismisses her, being cutesy, with "bye bye", waving his hand, only to call her back and deliberately upset her after she - in a very pleasant way - wishes him "Adios".
What the hell is going on there? Who is this guy?
Well, apparently he made the news before.
In Aug. 1998, the Miami Herald reported:
State Rep. Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat , R-West Dade, is betting voters will overlook his reputation for having a short fuse and a sharp tongue and return him to Tallahassee for a third term representing District 114.
[...]
In February [1998] when Florida International University professor Dario Moreno described Miami on national television as "almost the definition of a Third World Banana Republic," Rodriguez-Chomat retaliated by threatening FIU President Mitch Maidique to hurt the university when funding issues came up in Tallahassee if Maidique didn't take a stand against Moreno. Maidique refused and Rodriguez-Chomat was forced to apologize and retract his statement."
In a 2010 Dade County Bar Association judicial poll, Rodriguez-Chomat "was rated unqualified by more than 46 percent of respondents," according to Jose Pagliery, then a Daily Business Review staff writer.
http://randompixels.blogspot.de/
State Rep. Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat , R-West Dade, is betting voters will overlook his reputation for having a short fuse and a sharp tongue and return him to Tallahassee for a third term representing District 114.
[...]
In February [1998] when Florida International University professor Dario Moreno described Miami on national television as "almost the definition of a Third World Banana Republic," Rodriguez-Chomat retaliated by threatening FIU President Mitch Maidique to hurt the university when funding issues came up in Tallahassee if Maidique didn't take a stand against Moreno. Maidique refused and Rodriguez-Chomat was forced to apologize and retract his statement."
In a 2010 Dade County Bar Association judicial poll, Rodriguez-Chomat "was rated unqualified by more than 46 percent of respondents," according to Jose Pagliery, then a Daily Business Review staff writer.
http://randompixels.blogspot.de/
TALLAHASSEE A debate over school vouchers turned into a schoolyard brawl on Thursday as two Miami Republicans tangled on the House floor before being separated by a dozen legislators.
Reps. Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat and Carlos Valdes angrily grabbed each other by the jacket lapels and appeared ready to throw punches during the brief blow-up, which followed harsh words between the pair.
``This was not really the Thrilla in Manila,'' said House Republican leader Jim King Jr. of Jacksonville. ``But there's obviously a lot of tension out there and people are getting on edge.''
The Republican rumble took place in full view of House Speaker Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, and state public TV cameras. It was the first floor fight since 1992, when two smaller-scale eruptions marred the House.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-04-10/news/9804090459_1_valdes-desk-jorge-rodriguez-chomat-vouchers
Reps. Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat and Carlos Valdes angrily grabbed each other by the jacket lapels and appeared ready to throw punches during the brief blow-up, which followed harsh words between the pair.
``This was not really the Thrilla in Manila,'' said House Republican leader Jim King Jr. of Jacksonville. ``But there's obviously a lot of tension out there and people are getting on edge.''
The Republican rumble took place in full view of House Speaker Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, and state public TV cameras. It was the first floor fight since 1992, when two smaller-scale eruptions marred the House.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-04-10/news/9804090459_1_valdes-desk-jorge-rodriguez-chomat-vouchers
Picture (note the expensive looking bling on his right hand)
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Penelope Soto, my hero: Florida teen flipping the finger at abusive judge [View all]
reorg
Feb 2013
OP
Some of the old-bashers had better hope they live long enough to be called old. n/t
RebelOne
Feb 2013
#180
No, actually, it hadn't occured to me that she might be deliberately trying to hurt it
Xipe Totec
Feb 2013
#60
You seem to have a well developed ability to classify and reduce people to cartoonish stereotypes
Xipe Totec
Feb 2013
#296
She wasn't "taking a stand"....she doesnt seem smart enough to "take a stand"
blueamy66
Feb 2013
#111
I appreciate what you are saying, but I do not see a lawyer there to coach or assist her.
Sivafae
Feb 2013
#159
I'm not sure I can draw a conclusion either way based on the video. However...
Xipe Totec
Feb 2013
#216
No, she was flipping off a hateful asshole. People like him are an embarrassment to the court. nt
EastKYLiberal
Feb 2013
#100
I don't like when people use positions of power to talk down to people and expect respect in return.
EastKYLiberal
Feb 2013
#108
I'm not sure what some of these "the judge was a harsh prick" posters want or expect.
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#198
Nathan Hale is "I regret that I only have one life to give (or lose) for my country"
alcibiades_mystery
Feb 2013
#35
Unrec. Sorry that your hatred of authority clouds your judgment of what a hero is.
FSogol
Feb 2013
#8
If I had an 18 who experimented with drugs and is caught by me or authorities...
vaberella
Feb 2013
#20
Confusing "courage" and "stupidity" may well be validating to your point of view,
LanternWaste
Feb 2013
#169
I don't doubt that Ms. Soto deserved a contempt sentence of some length
alcibiades_mystery
Feb 2013
#38
A few days in the slammer probably helped her adjust her attitude a bit.
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#153
Has it occured to anyone here that maybe she doesn't know how much her jewlery is worth because
Sivafae
Feb 2013
#174
So your answer would be "Rick Ross" while giggling like a schoolgirl too??
thelordofhell
Feb 2013
#165
The difference in her behaviour between the first video above and the second
A HERETIC I AM
Feb 2013
#40
Exactly. The child had probably never learned their could be consequences for acting like that.
alphafemale
Feb 2013
#117
Because the first judge......in the part of the video that hardly anyone saw...appointed one
thelordofhell
Feb 2013
#191
Thanks for this. Of course the righteous DUers loved this girl going to jail....
Logical
Feb 2013
#46
1 or 2 days is a lesson, 30 days is a idiot judge! Shit, DUI drivers get no time! n-t
Logical
Feb 2013
#150
What's that old country song? "My Heroes Have Always Been Dumbasses"?
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#265
Yes, and ALL of us are 100% WRONG and you--YOU ALONE--are the paragon of reason.
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#212
I am shocked that someone who self-medicates with Xanax might behave as if she has social anxiety.nt
Ian David
Feb 2013
#86
That judge is an asshole... and I question any sentences handed down by such a crabby prick. nt
EastKYLiberal
Feb 2013
#99
I wouldn't call her a hero, but I'm glad to see she's got a second hearing! nt.
polly7
Feb 2013
#134
I was mortified about the responses here yesterday. It is getting harder and harder
Lionessa
Feb 2013
#138
You seem to fail to recognize that the judge was disrespectful initially, there's not a thing
Lionessa
Feb 2013
#164
I was surprised as well, happily, that the majority of DUers sided with the judge. nt
Skip Intro
Feb 2013
#145
Yes, she is quite the hero. I'm showing the video to my daughters and I'll tell them,
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#152
I must confess I only have the vaguest idea of who the Kardashians are.
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#197
"'Hero'? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Common Sense Party
Feb 2013
#171
You Really Need to Watch the Video a Few More Times - She's A Strung Out Addict - Not Hero.
dballance
Feb 2013
#178
Sorry, but anyone stupid enought to flip off a judge in the courtroom gets no sympathy from me.
GumboYaYa
Feb 2013
#202
What a poor choice of heroes. If you want a case of a really fucked up judge getting righteously
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2013
#213
The judge is Cuban, her jail record lists her as white. The 'adios' comes off as rude and racist.
Matariki
Feb 2013
#240
You've shown yourself to be racist, ageist, and 'lookist' through this whole thread
Matariki
Feb 2013
#267
What I didn't bring up is "one of those" - what the hell kind of racist shit is that
Matariki
Feb 2013
#258
Yes, be very afraid, obey, conform, submit. After all, those are the principles this
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2013
#253
Unfortunately in some cases, no matter how mad you are at a judge, no matter how insane
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#279
Judge is a jerk with attitude who picks on girls. A waste of our tax dollars!!!
anneboleyn
Feb 2013
#282