The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
A judge on the Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court faces possible censure from the state Supreme Court after being accused of ordering a juvenile held without bail and refusing him a chance to appeal.
In a complaint by the Virginia Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission, officials alleged that Judge Ramona D. Taylor "failed to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary" and "failed to be faithful to the law."
The commission investigates allegations of ethics violations and conducts hearings. I t can place the judge on supervision or issue a private reprimand. The commission refers more serious charges that require the retirement, public censure or removal of the judge to the state Supreme Court, according to the commission's Web site.
The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments during the session set for Sept. 14 to 18, court clerk Trish Harrington said.
Taylor has served as a judge since 2000 and is a former prosecutor in Virginia Beach.
According to case records, she convicted a 14-year-old boy in 2007 of misdemeanor assault, stemming from a fight on a school bus with another boy. Taylor denied the teen's request for an immediate sentencing and asked for a report on his background pending sentencing. She also denied another request to appeal for a bond hearing.
At the time of the judge's ruling, the teen's attorney, Barry R. Koch, wrote that Taylor was putting his client in "limbo."
Taylor's attorney, Kevin E. Martingayle, said she ordered the teen detained upon his conviction based on a law that allows her to do so if she considered the teen a threat to public safety.
"It's what she thought in good faith to be an appropriate course of action," Martingayle said, adding that it was unclear whether she should have followed that statute or another pertaining to bail.
The case is complex, he said. "The fact it's technical and complicated is indicative of a judge trying to wade her way through some complicated legal provisions and gray areas," he said.
The commission initially alleged in its complaint that Taylor told a clerk not to process the appeal order, but it later agreed that she had not instructed the clerk.
Shawn Day, (757) 222-5131, shawn.day@pilotonline.com
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Always A Fair Judge
Judge Taylor has the reputation for being one of the fairest judges in Virginia Beach. She listens to each witness and attorney, gives all parties a full and fair hearing, checks the Virginia Code and case law if there is any doubt about either in the case, and advises the parties that they have a right to appeal if they disagree with her decision. In the case involving the Caucasian juvenile who assaulted the African-American juvenile, despite the fact that the Caucasian juvenile beat the African-American victim so badly that he had to seek medical treatment and also despite the fact that the Caucasian juvenile used the "n" word while beating on the victim while he was on the ground, Judge Taylor did not treat this defendant any differently than she would have any other juvenile who had engaged in such unlawful behavior. The law governing juvenile defendants held in detention after the trial but before the sentencing is far from clear. Those of you who have the time should check out what happened in the JIRC hearing and in the Supreme Court. You would be appalled at the way this case was handled. The judge who presided over the JIRC hearing had previously filed a complaint a
HMMMM
Your information is both incorrect and almost laughable! The African American child actually started the bus stop argument which led to the fight. Let’s not forget his part in this entire situation. It does not excuse the actual fighting that took place but he does have responsibility in what occurred! His parents took him to a Patient First where the court records showed that the African American child did not receive so much as an aspirin or band aid, therefore your "beating" is incorrect. Also, the Caucasian child was not the person who used the "n" word towards the African American child which was also part of the court records. In fact, two of the three "witnesses" testified that the "n" word was yelled out by another student at the bus stop. These two witnesses just happened to be the African American child in the fight and his sister. If you had been in the courtroom, you would have seen the immediate change in the Judges behavior once the testimony of the "n" was discussed. She did in fact treat this Caucasian child differently and let her personal attitude affect her professional opinion. She was publicly censured which was upheld by the recommend by the JIRC, and
Judge Taylor
I agree that it's about time we have a Judge that is willing to stand up to the kids around here. Good Job Judge Taylor !
Bravo
Bravo that a Virginia Beach judge is being investigated. This group should be investigating all judges. They sit up on the bench like they are royalty and talk down to citizens, police officers, and defense attornies. Come to General District court in Chesapeake and watch the judges treat people like dirt. And yet their actions go on without being accountable to any group. The courts are full of bitter old judges who are disgruntled because they can't get appointed to circuit court. Or judges who suck on mints to desguise the smell of alcohol. Make them accountable is all I ask.
Justice not allowed in Va.B.
Sad to say, but someone has to monitor the behavior of judges in this city. A few years ago we petitioned for temporary custody of a grandchild after said grandchild's parent had a mental breakdown requiring hospitalization. The judge in our case had heard a case prior to ours that lasted longer than it was supposed to. This judge came into the courtroom complaining of the time the previous case had taken and how it had caused problems with a lunch date which she had. She allowed a short session of questions for me by lawyers & reviewed none of the mental health files on the parent in question. She then continued the protection order for the parent who had been injured by actions of the other parent during the breakdown while at the same time requiring the injured parent to take the child to the other parent every day and leave them unsupervised. She continued the case for 3 months and dismissed the court continuing to complain about missing lunch. There was no consideration of the saftey of our grandchild only her lunch date. Since it was JDR our lawyer (who appeared dumbfounded) told us there was nothing we could do. CPS told us the same and would not or could not do anything.
Ignorance breeds stupidity
Goalie99 - be careful not to make assumptions and rush to judgment based on facts of which you do not know. The reason the decision handed down by Judge Taylor was egregious and flies in the face of justice is that this young man is not and has never been a "threat to society". He does not come from a family where he lacks shelter, food, societal interaction, or parental guidance. In fact, he is a decent young man who happened to get involved in a fight at school which he did not start. I know this young man and his family, and they were the victims of judicial wrongdoing. He had a right to appeal the bond hearing and that was denied, and the rationale for denying the appeal was not given. Judges must follow the rules of law to maintain the system within which we all live, and when they do not, they should be reprimanded.
Oh, Please, Oh, Please
So, it's ok to lock you up without a bond hearing and deny any appeal.? Funny, the Circuit Court and the Commission did not see it that way. We sure are glad you're not a judge!!
Once again, the issue is the judge making legal errors, using bad judgment, and violating rights. Kids and adults make mistakes. Judges make mistakes. That's why we have an appeal process. If you take away the right to appeal, you have China. Makes sense to me.
Oh Please
Judge Taylor is a class act. She is one of the FEW judges who are willing to stand up to bad kids and teach them proper respect for others. Instead of retaining an out-of-control lawyer to represent their out-of-control kid, they should be thankful to Her Honor for sending that kid to the Detention Center where he can learn from people who care enough about him to spend time teaching him right from wrong. You GO Judge!
Justice
Do I hear "Bully".....sounds like a 14 year old thats been use to getting his way.
Constitutional Rights
Most of you are missing the point. This case is about the behaviour of a judge. The judge not only denied bond (that is legal), she denied a bond hearing. That happens to be a constitutional right. In fact, two constitutions - State and Federal! Get it? She also denied appeal!!! Are you kidding me? That is also a constitutional right. Imagine you get locked up for something minor (remember, simple assault is a misdemeanor {whether you agree or not}), and the judge denies you a bond hearing and then does not allow an appeal to be processed! Can you imagine? Basically, the judge is acting like a god and keeping you locked up because she wants to. Jesus, is this Cuba or Angola or China? Obviously, the Circuit Court and the Review Commission did not see it her way. She's a judge, I imagine she has read the Constitution at some point.The parents did the right thing. The Circuit Court did the right thing. the Commission did the right thing. What don't you get? I can only assume the Supreme Court will do the right thing.