St. Mary's County Judicial Ethics Question?

[Pete]

And you've provided me with no proof that she has ever disclosed her conflict of interest on the record, cause it most likely has never happened.
How many times has her tenant made an appearance in her court? You tell me.

Hey buddy, you are the one making accusations and now you are backing off your assertion that she has NEVER disclosed it or even if the lawyer in question has appeared in her court?

Just like I thought, you are creating wind.

Listen very closely..................................hear it? That is the last whisper of your credibility gurgling down the drain............................and now it is gone.

 

[renfred]

Abrams - Ethics

And while we are on "disclosure" what is the code for manner of disclosure? Verbal? Does it have to be in writing? Dow it have to be made in court in front of the recorder? Can it be in chambers? How does anyone really know she doesn't already disclose using one of the above manners?

Maybe someone should ask her these legitimate questions? Perhaps she could shed some light on the subject?

 

[Pete]

Maybe someone should ask her these legitimate questions? Perhaps she could shed some light on the subject?

You are JPC's MPD or a relative of JPC aren't you? The post titles, the diction, misspellings, the gross misrepresentations, the total lack of reality it has to be.

 

[vraiblonde]

Renfred, why do you have it in for Karen Abrams?

 

[Ken King]

The answer to your questions,...is another question...who knows if she has or has not acted fairly?

...would you suggest a combing over the record in the past few years to find out?

The point is not if she has or has not given Guenther "special favor or ruling". The point is that she should disclose her financial relationship with Guenther on the record, so that all parties are made fully aware, and can then factor this information into their legal decision making.

Why erode the public's confidence in the judiciary? Is it worth risking the appearance of impropriety so that you can rule over Daniel Guenther's case without anybody knowing that you rent to him?

Well if she acted improperly by giving favor to her renter you can bet that it would be known. And that is the point, that her actions are not tainted with impropriety. And where has anything been eroded?

It's obvious to me that you have a bone to pick with Judge Abrams to bring up such a petty issue.

 

[Charles]

It is such a small thing to do. She should just disclose that information to both parties in her court room and let the lawyer who isn't her tenant decide.

I think it would be a better option than having your integrity questioned later, and a financial relationship, such as a landlord/tenant could be considered as a conflict of interest. This is a judge's decision, it holds a great deal of importance. It doesn't matter what you and I think is absurd, I feel it is absurd also, but that client who felt the decision didn't go their way because of her personal relationship with the tenant could make a huge stink about it.

Better to be safe than sorry, I would think.

Simple solution to a non-problem.

 

[port air]

It is quite interesting that in referring to Gunether, no one seems to realize that he has a long list of domestic cases that he has brought forth in all three of the local counties. It "appears" that is where he makes his bread and butter. Not knowing Judge Abrams myself, I was wondering what area she presides over predominately? Is it civil or criminal?

 

[renfred]

Karen H. Abrams - COI

Well if she acted improperly by giving favor to her renter you can bet that it would be known. And that is the point, that her actions are not tainted with impropriety. And where has anything been eroded?

It's obvious to me that you have a bone to pick with Judge Abrams to bring up such a petty issue.

Canon 2 of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct states that "a judge should avoid all appearances of impropriety". This is a very important concept and it applies to Judge Abrams. When a judge has the appearance of impropriety, due to her renting a commercial property to a lawyer who goes before her, then not fully disclosing this on the record, the public's trust erodes.

 

[MMDad]

Canon 2 of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct states that "a judge should avoid all appearances of impropriety". This is a very important concept and it applies to Judge Abrams. When a judge has the appearance of impropriety, due to her renting a commercial property to a lawyer who goes before her, then not fully disclosing this on the record, the public's trust erodes.

Have you filed a complaint with the Maryland bar?

 

[vraiblonde]

Canon 2 of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct states that "a judge should avoid all appearances of impropriety". This is a very important concept and it applies to Judge Abrams. When a judge has the appearance of impropriety, due to her renting a commercial property to a lawyer who goes before her, then not fully disclosing this on the record, the public's trust erodes.

I can't believe you don't have better things to get juiced up over than this.

 

[renfred]

Karen H. Abrams - COI

Have you filed a complaint with the Maryland bar?

Please read my last post on this other thread as well, it somewhat addresses your question:

http://forums.somd.com/showthread.php?t=109621

 

[renfred]

Karen H. Abrams - Ethics

I can't believe you don't have better things to get juiced up over than this.

I beleive that this is a very serious issue that needs to be corrected. The public's confidence in the local judicial system is at stake. Maybe this doesn't mean much to you, but for the other roughly 99,960 of us, it does.

 

[MMDad]

Please read my last post on this other thread as well, it somewhat addresses your question:

http://forums.somd.com/showthread.php?t=109621

Was that a "no?"

You have a problem, you know the solution, but you don't want to take the action? You'd rather come on here, whine, and complain, than take the action you know to be right?

You have no credibility unless you file a complaint. Everything else you do is just whining. If the matter is not serious enough to warrant a formal complaint, it is not worth your incessant sniveling.

I find it hard to believe you aren't a JPC MPD. Your MO is identical, referring to your other posts, inflammatory titles, and paranoia.

 

[kom526]

I beleive that this is a very serious issue that needs to be corrected. The public's confidence in the local judicial system is at stake. Maybe this doesn't mean much to you, but for the other roughly 99,960 of us, it does.

Actually it's 99,959...

 

[MMDad]

Actually it's 99,959...

99,958

 

[vraiblonde]

I beleive that this is a very serious issue that needs to be corrected. The public's confidence in the local judicial system is at stake. Maybe this doesn't mean much to you, but for the other roughly 99,960 of us, it does.

Do you honestly think Karen Abrams would give latitude to a lawyer just because he rents office space from her? Really?

 

[renfred]

Karen H. Abrams - COI

Do you honestly think Karen Abrams would give latitude to a lawyer just because he rents office space from her? Really?

The larger issue is that she should not be putting herself, nor the attorneys that go before her, in the position to have to deal with this. She should either assign his cases to another judge, or fully disclose her financial relationship with him, on the record, each and every time that he represents a client in her courtroom.

Frankly, I'm shocked that even Abrams' strongest, most vehement supporters don't think this is an appropriate "measure" to take.

Why is it so important for you and for her to maintain the position that her current policy with regard to her tenant at the courthouse is okay? The question I'd like to know is why put yourself in the potential position of being subjected to all of this scrutiny? Is it because she thought she would never be called out on it? Or is it because the financial benefit is just slightly lucrative enough that it is worth the risk.

 

[MMDad]

The question I'd like to know is why put yourself in the potential position of being subjected to all of this scrutiny?

All of this scrutiny? One nutball loon whining on the internet is not "scrutiny." Now, if somebody thought it were actually worthy of filing a complaint, that would be scrutiny.

 

[vraiblonde]

Why is it so important for you and for her to maintain the position that her current policy with regard to her tenant at the courthouse is okay?

Personally, I couldn't care less.

And apparently no one else does, either - or at least no one that counts. Have you made a complaint to the MD Bar? (if you've already answered this question, I apologize - I haven't read both threads all the way through) Because that's the thing: if neither they nor Judge Abrams thinks this is a problem, the people who have concerns about it need to speak up.

 

[renfred]

Abrams - Ethics

All of this scrutiny? One nutball loon whining on the internet is not "scrutiny." Now, if somebody thought it were actually worthy of filing a complaint, that would be scrutiny.

Wouldn't surprise me one bit to find out that there are complaints out there, or that there have been many complaints, that have just been swept under the rug, so to speak. We'll never know because its all kept top secret, under lock and key, by the state's judicial branch. One of the downfalls of the separation of the branches of government I guess.

Your'e right on the nose with the scrutiny comment. True scrutiny for someone who holds her position would have to come from other judges, and the attorneys who come before her in St. Mary's County. Not some tiny little internet blog poster. The fact that there is an open discussion is huge progress though.