The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
A thin line exists between civility and inappropriate chumminess. Just ask the general district court judges here, who have warned attorneys to stop patting traffic cops on the back in court.
"It is a little blip," said Gene Woolard, chief judge. "Heck, I've probably done it when I was a defense attorney."
A couple of months ago, the judges said they noticed that a few lawyers were getting too friendly with police officers in traffic court. An attorney patting an officer on the back in court, they said, might leave some asking, what gives?
"It is not necessarily the reality, but the impression," Woolard said.
Several "high volume" police officers said the recognition made them uncomfortable, according to a report in the Virginia Beach Bar Association's August newsletter.
It became one of several issues judges discussed with a Beach Bar committee over the summer. The judges also said telling them that a client is a relative, member of their firm's staff, spouse or neighbor might be perceived as a plea for favoritism. The bench asked that it stop, too.
"People know each other," Woolard said. "However, if you are sitting in the audience, you could get the impression that there is a good-old-boy system."
The judges did not issue an order for formality. Attorneys have been policing themselves.
"We worked this one out peacefully," Woolard said.
Robert Morecock, a lawyer who shuttles among courtrooms, believes some fraternization is "inappropriate."
"I say thank you to the officers," he said. "I don't think that is in the same league as rubbing an officer's shoulder. My take is that much of what we do is perceived by the public in ways that we might not understand or appreciate."
Duane Bourne, (757) 222-5150, duane.bourne@pilotonline.com
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A little patting never hurt anyone......
Wow......the judicial system in Virginia Beach falling apart by a friendly pat on the back! Give me a break......now a good "Slap" on the back....thats the "Good-Ol-Boy System".
co-workers too
The police, attorneys and court officers are co-workers just like you and your co-workers. They see and work with each other very often. I can tell you from personal experience that their comroderie (sp) ends with the calling of their cases. Then it becomes prosecution against the defense and leave it to the judge or jury to figure it out. It's funny to read the posts from people who won cases due to "pats on the back" complaining about the system. Not every case requires the "letter of the law" prosecution. The relationships the court officers have are a good thing. I support what another poster said in ref to staying out of court period and you don't have to worry about anything!
Sounds Like Another Attack On Freedom!
These officers and attorneys and judges see each other everyday of every week. They have their own repore that the average citizen does not have access to, nor is any of their business. Yes, you can get into enough trouble, and hire a lawyer who will attempt to "buy down" your fine or jail time at your expense. Yes, you can submit that bill for speedometer recalibration on your 2009 Mercedes in the hope of getting out of a speeding ticket. Wouldn't we all be better off obeying all the laws all of the time? Who will lose a child to violent crime because a police officer was tied up with a careless motorist?
lifeontheverge - think again
You got it backwards..the goal and reason for law enforcement and the judicial system is punishment, not rehabilitation. Thats why they call it the "Penal System" meaning "punishment". One reason for the failure of the the country's prison systems is that people like you have been duped into believing that when we put criminals in prison, the Gov't is supposed to rehabilitate them and then let them out..not so. They are there to punish them for the crime they were found guilty of commiting, nothing more. IF they learn anything from the experience, great; if not, we will see them again, unfortunately. Next time, they may stay longer. Prison is for punishment, counselors and social programs are for rehabilition and the two should not mix at the same time.
Heh
The people with real juice never actually have to go to court. The matters are settled beforehand.
Here is a solution
Don't do the crime, don't do the time. Easy solution.
What Justice Co$t$
The legal profession has one problem-LAWYERS. Lawyers who hire themselves out and lawyers who are called "judges", both of whom would rather that the laymen like you and me stay out of their little club-just as long as we surrender our money to support it. Fines, court costs and lawyers fees while using the police as their "collection agents" assure that those who thrive on conflict will stay in business. It's not about justice, rehabilitation, safety or any other noble reason-it's about taking money from one group to support another. Call it an additional motorist tax and the recepiants of this welfare all went to law school. It's strange isn't it? Laymen like most folks aren't invited to have any say in citizen oversight of the Beach Police, Citizens like you and me would never have any input into disiplinary hearings regarding the misconduct of lawyers, but we can be found in c
It's a process.
Justice is NOT 'Justice' per se. It's just a process you get to pay for and play along with. Showing up in Court without a Lawyer is a slap in the face to the 'System' ! YOU are not playing right and throwing money into their pockets is all it is and you WILL be punished. Punished not for whatever you did, (Or didn't do) but failure to play/PAY homage to the cops, lawyers, judges, jail,/ 'The System'.
It is certainly a 'Good ol' Boys' Club and it won't change.
Try Maryland Justice. It's worse.
What a joke!!!!
Ever since I can remember Virginia Beach has always had the good ole boy network going on in the court systems. Tell me how a man with illegal guns and drugs gets off just because he had a so called high profile lawyer, sitting in court and watching the judge smooze with the attorneys and police is what is a real joke!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a joke
The judge really needs to focus on hearing matters fairly in his court and stop caring whether or not police officers and attorneys are polite to one another.
And my guess is that your average cop who was "uncomfortable" about getting a pat on the back would let the lawyer know in no uncertain terms.
Not that I would be that cynical, but this judge's name sounded familiar...he was the second pick for the vacant circuit court judgeship in Virginia Beach. Maybe he is trying to make a name for himself to push himself to number 1 next time.
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/wheels-justice-grind-slower-over-shortage-judges