Ethics Complaint Filed - Judge Refused To Release Dying Man From Jail

[The Straight Story]

Judge Refuses To Release Dying Man From Jail
Ethics Complaint Filed Against Judge

POSTED: 6:22 pm EST February 6, 2007
UPDATED: 6:30 pm EST February 6, 2007

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A state disciplinary committee filed an ethics complaint Tuesday against a judge who refused to release a dying man from jail and then allegedly issued a misleading order apparently in response to a newspaper story about that case.

The Investigative Panel of the Judicial Qualification Commission also alleged Circuit Judge Cheryl Aleman of Fort Lauderdale violated judicial canons through "a pattern of arrogant, discourteous, and impatient conduct toward lawyers and others" in her Broward County courtroom.

Aleman had refused to grant a medical furlough to Jean Felix, who had AIDS, in July 2003 although a prosecutor had no objection and the jail health system's manager testified that remaining behind bars would aggravate his terminal condition.


The circuit's chief judge overruled Aleman a few days later and released Felix, who had been jailed for violating probation in a drug possession case.

Although Felix had been given only a few months to live, he did not die until nearly three years later in May 2006 at the age of 44.

http://www.local6.com/news/10946837/detail.html

[Missy M]

1. Just because you're a judge doesn't mean you have any sense...

not sure, but it sounds like he was a drug user and should have been in rehabilitation instead of prison anyway.

[Bonobo]

2. "a pattern of arrogant, discourteous, and impatient conduct"

Sounds like Judge Judy!

[murielm99]

3. I like Judge Judy.

If I had to listen to some of the people who come into her courtroom, I would be arrogant, discourteous and impatient, too.

So many of them are foolish people who love the idea of being on TV.

[Bonobo]

4. I like her too, but you gotta admit sometimes she is needlessly discourteous.

She shuts people up, calls them stupid, accuses them of taking drugs and is generally high-handed and abusive.

Being a judge doesn't give her the right. But yeah, I know -just entertainment. Still, sometimes I think I'd like to see her catch some of the shit she flings at people.