Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice–Convicted (along with her sister). Though the governor (or the court itself–it’s been done both ways in the past) gets to appoint someone short-term whenever Judge Melvin lets go or is let go (a conviction alone won’t do–a judicial finding of unsuitability for the bench or legislative impeachment must finalize things), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will have to get itself another elected judge, who ought to take care not to use staffers as campaign workers. Maybe the new judge will be good at Philadelphia Traffic Court oversight.
Monthly Archives: February 2013
Cities of Angels (and Cops)
An older story of how two towns dealt with biker gatherings. Since these gatherings continue each summer, often as a movable feast, aspiring police chiefs may have something to learn from this saga. Cities of Angels.
Investigating Recruits? Maybe!
From police departments to forensic science labs to the British bar, the scrutiny given the claims of applicants, as well as background investigations in general, can be woeful. Like here. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/nyregion/falling-far-short-of-the-whole-truth.html?smid=pl-share
Uncontrolled Comptroller: 53M/20 Years
One year for each 2.5 million the esteemed Dixon, IL comptroller stole from the city. Wonder if anyone who doesn’t get sentencing guidelines now thinks stealing 200K is only worth a month in jail. Seriously, the real moral is that no one handling finances should ever be spared serious, regular audits and heathy oversight skepticism. http://www.suntimes.com/news/18227927-418/ex-dixon-comptroller-gets-19-12-years-in-prison-in-53-million-theft.html
Philly Ticket Fixing Breaks
This report, commissioned by the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, set the stage for recent indictments of Philadelphia Traffic Court judges. The Chief Justice, however, will no longer be commissioning traffic court reports. His fellow justices assigned his oversight role to another judge in part, some suspect, because the report un-collegially cited the “consideration” shown a fellow Justice’s wife by Traffic Court functionaries. http://articles.philly.com/2012-11-22/news/35258842_1_traffic-court-judge-willie-singletary-judge-robert-mulgrew
Forensic “Science”
My book, Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail, delves into why even the best crime labs can “fail.” This piece is a nice update. http://www.npr.org/2012/11/20/165579898/forensic-crime-lab-scandals-may-be-due-to-oversight
A Billion Arrivederchi
So, as the world’s financial system teetered on the brink and with Bear Stearns about to drop like the canary in the coal mine, an august Italian bank ponies up $12 billion to buy a bank that changed hands for $8 billion just months before, a sweet 50% premium. You’d think this is about Italian bankers except that Bank of America pretty much did the same thing with respect to Countrywide Finance at the same time. Without study of decision-making in the executive suite that is neither indictment nor testimonial, such bad bets will be no less likely to occur in the future. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/business/global/monte-dei-paschi-di-siena-admits-985-million-in-losses-from-secret-deals.html?smid=pl-share
March 7 Update: Bank Exec Leaps to Death; Then Covers Himself with Tarp; + Update 2
Set bar higher for judges
At present in Pennsylvania, with elected judges, it’s more like a limbo bar. Inquirer Editorial: Set bar higher for judges.
Ticket Fixing in Philly
Two-track system: The ordinary Joe or Jane was dressed down by stern judges whose hearts then bled for the connected. Check out the related links alongside the main story. Nine current and former Traffic Court judges charged.