The New York Post - EDITORIAL - December 7, 2009
It doesn't say much for the judicial system when New York's top judge shows scant respect for the state Constitution -- to say nothing of the rule of law. During confirmation hearings earlier this year, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said "judicial pay raises" were his "biggest issue." Or, rather, the lack of them: State lawmakers, too frightened to hike their own pay, refuse to pony up for judges, either. Lippman's mentor and immediate predecessor, Judith Kaye, actually sued to win judicial raises. This stood to compromise the integrity of those judges who'd be called on to rule on raises for themselves and their colleagues -- but creating conflict of interest is what they do best in Albany. Now Lippman has topped Kaye. As The Post's James Fanelli reported Sunday, last month he doubled, by diktat, state judges' annual expense allowances, from $5,000 to $10,000 -- an unauthorized de facto pay hike. Most judges just take the expense allowance, declare it as income and spend it as they see fit. Others use the accounts as slush funds to expense iPods, "meditation retreats," air purifiers and other nonessentials. Some even have their portraits done -- no surprise, given how seriously some New York judges take themselves. Lippman's key claim to fame before ascending to the top court was a lifelong friendship with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of Albany's most accomplished corner-cutters. Seems he picked up a few tricks from the ol' master. Judges get irked when shown contempt by the people. But what about when judges show contempt for the people?
It doesn't say much for the judicial system when New York's top judge shows scant respect for the state Constitution -- to say nothing of the rule of law. During confirmation hearings earlier this year, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said "judicial pay raises" were his "biggest issue." Or, rather, the lack of them: State lawmakers, too frightened to hike their own pay, refuse to pony up for judges, either. Lippman's mentor and immediate predecessor, Judith Kaye, actually sued to win judicial raises. This stood to compromise the integrity of those judges who'd be called on to rule on raises for themselves and their colleagues -- but creating conflict of interest is what they do best in Albany. Now Lippman has topped Kaye. As The Post's James Fanelli reported Sunday, last month he doubled, by diktat, state judges' annual expense allowances, from $5,000 to $10,000 -- an unauthorized de facto pay hike. Most judges just take the expense allowance, declare it as income and spend it as they see fit. Others use the accounts as slush funds to expense iPods, "meditation retreats," air purifiers and other nonessentials. Some even have their portraits done -- no surprise, given how seriously some New York judges take themselves. Lippman's key claim to fame before ascending to the top court was a lifelong friendship with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of Albany's most accomplished corner-cutters. Seems he picked up a few tricks from the ol' master. Judges get irked when shown contempt by the people. But what about when judges show contempt for the people?
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27 comments:
I remember...
the Judges recused themselves from multiple cases... pending and future..
Kinda like a standing Blanket Order ;)
they do not have money to cover the MTA fare for sending kids to school but they have money for meditation retreats and ipods.
I hope they prosecute Lippman and Sheldon Silver under the same law that they prosecuted Bruno under.
I am surprised that no one ever tried to get felony convictions on the 3 of them and a few others.
Oh, Saint Andrew, Patron Saint of Crooked Lawyers and Judges, are we to assume, since you're doing nothing about this, that Lippman is a crooked judge? Where does Lippman get this money? All funds must be voted by the Legislature. Saint Andrew, where are you?
we should thank those who got Bruno, that trial named others......
Hey Bruno, turn them in, save your butt and nail them!
Bruno the buttbuster!
assume Lippman is a crooked Judge,
that is funny!
Remove Jonathan Lippman from the bench, he should never, I repeat NEVER been placed there. Shelly Silver pulled that rabbit out of the hat. Now stick it down his throat.
Quite comical!!!
1) Former Chief Judge Sol Wachler..was a perverted sexual deviant!!
2) Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye...coyly ignored the rampant corruption by the Judges and Lawyers in the State of New York. I wonder why!!!
3) Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman is part and parcel of why the rampant corruption continues in the State of New York.IMPEACH, IMPEACH, and IMPEACH..then go directly to JAIL, JAIL and JAIL...HO, HO, Ho!!
Lippman's name is going on the list of idiots in black bath robes that will have a jail cell soon.
A correction to 7;58 and your #2...Judy Kaye did not just ignore courtwide corruption...she was a willing participant...maybe tossing off the dirty work to the slaves that she governed...but absolutely participated....as I have proof the old hag manipulated the law and the reports of the violations of same!
this whole crew needs to go....
denying innocents their rights to protect your criminal friends, explains how the mentally ill continue to rule our court system.........like some Senators and their friends!!!!!!!!!
The courts are filled with coke, physical, sexual assault and pedophilia..
Re; ladt post
yeah the courts are fulled with coke and pedophilles and sex crimes now that we know what the staff is how about the peolple the arrest.
Maybe they should put Wachler in charge of sex crimes.
He has knoledge of that area of law
I am surprised that nobody talks about the cocaine use by some of these criminals. It is the drug of choice among them...
All of these gangster Judges have a sweet racket and they will not give it up! They control the buttons of power. Take the power away from them.
The choice of drugs of the judicial employees is
1) Loritabs
2)Codeine
3)Cocaine
4)Alcohol
This is not just NYC but upstate also.
As a once connected person to the local narco squad....I was told that they were in surveillance of a couple of judges and some highly respected attys partying on a judge's boat...where the intelligence led them to their continuous coke usage by all aboard, during multiple get togethers.
The result was..... the bust did not take place....because the police did not want to bust lawyers and judges who control the results of their arrests!
The judge who owned the boat is now a judge one step above Supreme Ct..... and as old as he is..remains in that position...and is just as illegal as he was then!
So again....we run into similar issues that keep the FEDS from investigating... the exposure of the JUSTICE SYSTEM....that may cause absolute disrespect and non-control of the massive criminal community and shock by the law abiding citizens, demanding immediate arrests and correction...something this state and country is not remotely prepared to undertake.
Am I not correct?
what is the 5,000 payola from Lippman, VOTE FOR ME LIPPMAN!
Hey Lippman your number is up, just step down.......
we have ways of setting you up!
To 9:41am
So they start investigations they haven't the testosterone to finish?
What a waste of resources...
When criminal reports are made, the local police send the report to the DA, who refuses to investigated. Given a free out jail card to these criminals and the report dies there. It is time to take action and begin having our voices been heard. Informing the public by our own means. We are the majority, maybe it is time to get our own tv show, since the media appears to have some diffuculties reporting the truth...
To 9:41, We have an excess of lawyers to replace all the crooks we send to jail.
hey judges, I can get almost unlimited amounts of 1 and 2
can you cut me some slack?
this is our lawyers, self gratifying governed lawyers,
hey, US Attorney did you get my complaints for the RICO Violations by these corrupt lawyers?
Heres the deal investigate my claims and you can take down a few of the politically connected that try to kill whomever they want just by illegally using the system, you see they are the biggest takers and they need to be taken down!
Kill all the Lawyers, Shakespeare was right, or atleast start fining/jailing the backstabbing bloodsucking bastards!
All these crooked judges and attorneys need to be send to Illinois together with the terrorist from Guatanamo Bay.... They should all get the same treatment since the crimes are the same..
you are right, terrorists and prostitutes..........
so US Attorney answer are requests and call in the US Marshall until we all clean out the base....
On a daily basis these criminals degrade the legal profession and defraud the public. Documents are altered, complaints are whitewashed, honest lawyers get the shaft and criminals like Lippman, James Shed and Alan friedberg who should be in jail are permitted to engage in unconstitutional acts.
It is our fault for not taking control of the situation. Forget the politicians they only want to reelected and will not jeoparize losing one vote in fear of offending the corrupted ones. The feds- they have too many issues to deal with and corruption in the NY court system is on the back burner until terrorism and other national concerns can be stabilized.
I am inviting each of you who reads or posts to become actively engaged in stopping Lippman , Shed , Gonzalez, Cohen. Friedberg and others from further destroying our system.
If one looks at history- MANY battles have been fought and won by those less skilled, less manned and against all odds. It only takes one person to mobilize a movement and effect change. David, Spartigus,Rosa parks- all bought hope and much needed change. May the force be with us.
So how does this work? The Judges are given an account to manage and expense? Is this like a one shot deal? for which the legislators now know they have over budgeted? ie. slush fund?
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