In a surprise verdict, a jury acquitted former judge Herman Thomas of sexual abuse, attempted sodomy, and assault related to allegations that he brought inmates to his chambers for sex and spankings. The judge insisted that he brought the men to his office to “mentor” them, but prosecutors put forward evidence of semen on the carpet and testimony of numerous former inmates that they had sex with him or allowed him to spank them for lenient treatment.
After being acquitted by the jury on major counts (but hanging on other counts), the trial judge directed a verdict on all counts in favor of Thomas.
This is a major victory for defense attorney Robert Clark who insisted that the judge was “trying to get them to do right, to be productive citizens.” Prosecutors put forward evidence that placed a different meaning on what Thomas thought was “getting them to do right” or be “productive.” However, some of their witnesses had to be dropped and one said that he was pressured to implicate the judge by his defense lawyer, here.
Thomas is now going to seek the reinstatement of his law license.
For the full story, click here
Here is an update.
The Judge has been disbarred:
“Former Judge Herman Thomas of Mobile County was disbarred Monday after a closed hearing, report the Associated Press, the Press Register and WKRG. Thomas is currently campaigning for state senator.
“Tony McLain, general counsel of the Alabama State Bar, said there was evidence that Thomas paddled inmates and that he talked to inmates without attorneys present, the Press Register story says. According to McLain, Thomas testified that he did spank five young men for discipline, but none of them were criminal defendants in his courtroom.”
Thomas’ lawyer, Robert “Cowboy Bob” Clark, said he plans to appeal.
http://www.abajournal.com/weekly/article/judge_accused_of_paddling_inmates_is_disbarred
Floyd Martin.
Get a jump start. Thats a fairly sophisticated nom de plume de jour. Tell all the others the family is well, I hope yours are too.
Anonymously Yours is a Idiot!
Hitler and his goons created the Peoples Car
The Volkswagon!
It was suppose to be affordable for all the people!
But of course you had to take it out of context and make a big deal out of nothing!
No Hitler never said he created the Automobile!
1, October 27, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Alan,
I must censor what you read. I read the article and link and I am aghast. If Scalia really stated this and it out of the article:
“Hitler developed a wonderful automobile,” Scalia said. “What does that prove?”
I will ask you does this clown (Scalia) not remember that it was not Hitler that created any such automobile. It had already been created in France in the late 1800
IF this man is not Boule, then the jury acquitted him 2 see some ‘street justice’. If this man is ‘truly’ guilty, which in my opinion, I wouldn’t have been one 2 acquit him, Justice will prevail. It alwayz has, and alwayz will.
eleven minute interview with the judge (click play on video)
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/alabama/thomas_trial_judge_neilson_speaks_out
The belated “that’s not the way we voted” story sounded sketchy to me.
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/10/mobile_county_district_attorne_2.html :
Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. said this afternoon that the Herman Thomas trial is finished after 3 jurors who had come forward with concerns about the not guilty verdicts refused to sign affidavits.
Three jurors complained to the District Attorneys office this week that they didn’t vote “not guilty” in the Thomas case. Late Thursday afternoon, one juror contacted District Attorney John Tyson Jr. and said she didn’t want to be associated with the case anymore. Another says he doesn’t know how he voted and the third says he didn’t want to be the only juror involved in the dispute.
The District Attorney’s office has decided not to file paperwork with an appellate court disputing the Thomas verdict.
http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/Jurors-Withdraw-Complaints-In-Herman-Thomas/isVwdv4Wr02RJRHX4QBlnA.cspx
The prosecutor has now reportedly decided not to pursue any post-trial motions
One juror gives a very candid interview about the jury deliberations. The jury was reportedly 11 to 1 in favor of conviction on one count of attempted sodomy. http://lagniappemobile.com/articles/2755-thomas-juror-speaks-out
The prosecutor now says he wants to depose the jurors about their deliberations
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/10/herman_thomas_case_juror_says.html