Florida Tries Again In 2022

Florida is back at it with another attempt at alimony reform. This time with the support of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar. However, the proposed bill still contains the presumption that parents will share time equally which is the main reason previous bills died. 

Here is the text of the proposed bill:

Dissolution of Marriage; Revises various provisions relating to dissolution of marriage & alimony; creates presumption that equal time-sharing is in best interests of minor child; authorizes separate adjudication of issues in dissolution of marriage under certain circumstances; provides for temporary orders to protect parties & their children.

I find it odd that joint custody is so conversational in this day and age. It seems, well, archaic. Someday, maybe. 

More Corrupt Judges

Continuing my recent theme of corrupt judges - one of most notorious cases of judicial corruption is the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania where in 2008 two judges were convicted of putting kids in jail, often for long sentences, after they committed petty crimes or, as was often the case, they were framed for committing such crimes. In return, the judges received million of dollars in kickbacks from the privately run prisons the children were sent to.

One of the judges was Mark Ciavarella who is about as bad a person as they come. Reddit had an interesting discussion about him earlier this month. 

Here is a heart wrenching confrontation of Ciavarella and his nearly equally bad attorney Al Flora by a mom who lost her son due to Ciavarella's actions:  

Slap On The Wrist

What happens when a lawyer takes money from a client for the purpose of bribing the police but then keeps the money for herself? Less than you would think. This is exactly what Woodburry, Minnesota lawyer Kristi McNeilly did. Her punishment was 180 days in the county workhouse, restitution of the money stolen and three years of probation from the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. That's right, she still gets to practice law. 

Given that Nelly Wince committed blatant fraud in court and was rewarded by the court for it, I should be surprised McNeilly received any punishment at all. The Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board is an open joke. 

Furthermore, imagine what would happen to a 25 year old black man who stole $15,000 stating he was going to bribe the police with it? No doubt he would be put in jail for many, many years. 

Equality and justice in our legal system is illusionary.

Occasionally Judges Are Caught

99% of the time judges who commit illegal and unethical acts get away with them. Occasionally they get caught, but most often it is not law enforcement or the legal system that catches them but public opinion. 

Michelle Odinet was a Lafayette, Louisiana judge who while witnessing a burglary outside her home used words that tell a lot about hwo she is:

“We have a n-----, It’s a n-----, like a roach.”

At first she claimed it was due to sedatives she was taking and tried to keep her job but public pressure forced her to resign. 

It isn't clear how the video of Odinet's words were released but given she was at home with her family, I am guessing one of her kids or husband was not too happy with her to begin with.