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DEL.ICIO.USSouthern Gothic: South Georgia judge admits he’s target of a federal investigation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From time to time, we’ve tried to keep you up-to-date on the travails of Brooks E. Blitch III, chief superior court judge of Alapaha Judicial Circuit. That’s near Valdosta.
Charges of corruption against the judge have raised memories of the courthouse power structures that dominated Georgia decades ago.
Last week, we told you that the FBI had copped to bugging the judge’s chambers as part of an investigation. Blitch, whose wife Peg is a former state senator, also faces an inquiry from the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the state authority that oversees judicial conduct.
Blitch’s attorney, former Gov. Roy Barnes of Marietta, had asked to postpone Blitch’s deposition before the JQC, to avoid violating the judge’s Fifth Amendment rights in the federal case. In his request, Blitch asked that proceedings be delayed “until….resolution of the federal investigation[,] of which he is a target.”
This week, the attorney’s acting as prosecutors in the JQC case — one happens to be former state attorney general Michael Bowers — issued a blistering rebuttal, declaring that the judge had already waived his right against self-incrimination. Read the entire document here.
Here’s just a portion of the response to Blitch’s request:
Judge Blitch fails to acknowledge, however, that the Notice contains numerous paragraphs detailing a pattern of conduct that demonstrates at best his professional incompetence and at worst his utter disregard for the law applicable to the function of his court and his own actions.
Moreover, deposition testimony in this matter shows that Judge Blitch manipulated various monetary funds over which he had control, imposed an illegal “tax” on criminal defendants, used his title to garner influence for both his and his family’s personal gain, exploited judicial resources provided to him by the state to serve his personal interest and his wife’s gain, employed the prestige of his judicial office to intimidate others, and wielded the power associated with his position to make appointments, to file false documents prematurely releasing inmates, to deny criminal defendants basic due process rights by issuing blank arrest warrants and to acquire further control within Clinch County specifically and the Alapaha Judicial Circuit generally.
There’s a strong hint in the document that prosecutors want Blitch to go back to every case since the 1980s to determine how many illegal fines he imposed. They want him to give the money back.
Comments
By Rick
March 12, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
New cool political name: Blitch Spritzer
By Churchill
March 12, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Speaking of Spitzer, I guess Hillary lost super delegate #9. I wonder who the Lt. Gov. will support. If he supports Obama, then Hillary will have been screwed not only by Bill’s antics, but also by the antics of a man married to another woman. This just keeps getting better and better. Peace.
By Jean
March 12, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
Exactly why www.USAjudges.com works when Judicial Commissions don’t.
Or won’t.
By Sally Swartz
March 12, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
This is not the only Judge that should be investigated. Chief Judge Sanford Jones at Fulton County’s Juvenile Court has been doing all kinds of behind the scenes “business” with other judges to get his way. He does not follow the Merit System under which his staff was hired and he even had his house shot up by the husband of some woman he was having an affair with. There have been 85 brand new laptop computers come up missing(????) He retained a Chief Probation Officer who threatened a Judge and hands out supervisor positions to men only like thety are candy or treats if they will do his bidding. Retaliation is norm in his court against women or those who report any wrong doing. Investigate his administration — that should keep you busy for a long time. There are a total of seven EEOC charges of discrimination of one sort or another currently open but he keeps on allowing these things to happen. He is a real good old boy crook.
By Bigot ismy Namo
March 12, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Independent-the dems had me in their back pocket , I can’t stomach the wrongs of the right, but they lost me with this infantile obsession in political correctness grow some balls Dems uncover these pious boobs tear the masks of the weakling’s who ruined our country and do it fast or I’m voting for one-foot in the grave and his boy wonder vp romney. My advice cut the chord on shillary, buy all in on Barack’s positive feel vibe and let it ride sweet Jesus cause I’m one toke over the line
By MC Reality
March 12, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this
Ready when you R?