Comments on: Questions arise about judicial complaints and selections http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/questions-arise-about-judicial-complaints-and-selections/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:53:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Challenger in Supreme Court election wants judicial reforms (video) « Idaho Reporter http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/questions-arise-about-judicial-complaints-and-selections/comment-page-1/#comment-5350 Challenger in Supreme Court election wants judicial reforms (video) « Idaho Reporter Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:18:13 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=1898#comment-5350 [...] Council member Philip Reberger told an Idaho Senate panel earlier this year that keeping complaints confidential prevents needless public outcry about judges’ conduct.  [...] [...] Council member Philip Reberger told an Idaho Senate panel earlier this year that keeping complaints confidential prevents needless public outcry about judges’ conduct.  [...]

]]> By: Nancy Swan http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/questions-arise-about-judicial-complaints-and-selections/comment-page-1/#comment-452 Nancy Swan Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:52:02 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=1898#comment-452 If the comment above by Reberger were valid, then the same protection of secrecy should extend to all who have cases before the court. “Without that confidentiality, the potential exists that immediate public outcry could run someone out on a rail without dealing with the substance properly,” Reberger said. He said some of the complaints the council receives don’t have merit. “If you were to air your dirty laundry in public prematurely, the confidence in Idaho’s judiciary could be undermined unnecessarily.” Secrecy is really a cover up for a judicial review system that protects judges rather than polices them. My complaint to the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance about the financial and personal relationship between my former attorney Paul Minor and Harrison County Circuit Court judge John Whitfield was dismissed. I refuse to comply with the confidentiality agreement and sparked a federal judicial bribery investigation that seven years later led to the conviction of Minor and Whitfield After my complaint was dismissed, I threatened to expose the failure the review board and the substance of my complaint. I discovered the mother of my former's attorney's law partner was on the board. It was a no-brainer to discover why the Commission dismissed my complaint. As a result of my protest both the judge and the Commission member resigned. I was told by the Commission director that judges are urged to resign to avoid tarnishing the judiciary. Rather than policing the judiciary they were more committed to protecting the image of the that state judges. See story about Toxic Justice, news, and resources at http://www.nancyswan.com and follow me at http://twitter.com/ToxicJustice If the comment above by Reberger were valid, then the same protection of secrecy should extend to all who have cases before the court. “Without that confidentiality, the potential exists that immediate public outcry could run someone out on a rail without dealing with the substance properly,” Reberger said. He said some of the complaints the council receives don’t have merit. “If you were to air your dirty laundry in public prematurely, the confidence in Idaho’s judiciary could be undermined unnecessarily.”

Secrecy is really a cover up for a judicial review system that protects judges rather than polices them. My complaint to the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance about the financial and personal relationship between my former attorney Paul Minor and Harrison County Circuit Court judge John Whitfield was dismissed. I refuse to comply with the confidentiality agreement and sparked a federal judicial bribery investigation that seven years later led to the conviction of Minor and Whitfield

After my complaint was dismissed, I threatened to expose the failure the review board and the substance of my complaint. I discovered the mother of my former’s attorney’s law partner was on the board. It was a no-brainer to discover why the Commission dismissed my complaint. As a result of my protest both the judge and the Commission member resigned. I was told by the Commission director that judges are urged to resign to avoid tarnishing the judiciary. Rather than policing the judiciary they were more committed to protecting the image of the that state judges.

See story about Toxic Justice, news, and resources at http://www.nancyswan.com and follow me at http://twitter.com/ToxicJustice

]]> By: Senate approves Reberger to Judicial Council « Idaho Reporter http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/questions-arise-about-judicial-complaints-and-selections/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Senate approves Reberger to Judicial Council « Idaho Reporter Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:04:37 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=1898#comment-382 [...] The Idaho Senate approved Phil Reberger to a second six-year term on the Judicial Council Wednesday. Several senators had kind words for Reberger, who has also served under four Republican senators and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. “This is the type of individual that Idaho is blessed to have,” said Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls. “He’s never really looked for work, but been sought out for his chosen leadership,” said Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, who is a childhood friend of Reberger. “I’ve known him a lifetime. I know his work ethic. He’s a good and honorable man.” The Senate also reappointed Tom Hearn to the Sexual Offender Classification Board. “His record of professionalism reads like a book,” Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, said about Hearn. The full Senate will vote on the appointment of Steven Tuft to the Judicial Council later this week. The Judicial Council deals with complaints against state judges and helps the governor fill court vacancies. Read IdahoReporter’s past coverage of Reberger’s appointment. [...] [...] The Idaho Senate approved Phil Reberger to a second six-year term on the Judicial Council Wednesday. Several senators had kind words for Reberger, who has also served under four Republican senators and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. “This is the type of individual that Idaho is blessed to have,” said Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls. “He’s never really looked for work, but been sought out for his chosen leadership,” said Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, who is a childhood friend of Reberger. “I’ve known him a lifetime. I know his work ethic. He’s a good and honorable man.” The Senate also reappointed Tom Hearn to the Sexual Offender Classification Board. “His record of professionalism reads like a book,” Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, said about Hearn. The full Senate will vote on the appointment of Steven Tuft to the Judicial Council later this week. The Judicial Council deals with complaints against state judges and helps the governor fill court vacancies. Read IdahoReporter’s past coverage of Reberger’s appointment. [...]

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