Connecticut Police Seek Arrest of Judge After She Refuses To Sign Warrant

There is a bizarre confrontation in Salisbury, Connecticut where state police have applied for a warrant to arrest Superior Court judge Corinne L. Klatt after refusing to sign a prior arrest warrant. Salisbury Resident Trooper Mark Lauretano charges that Klatt is guilty of coercion and hindering a criminal investigation by refusing to sign the warrant.

The warrant was for an attack on a man for a fight in a cafe. Lauretano indicates that Klatt would not sign the warrant “unless she receives an arrest warrant for the victim” in the fight. Now, Lauretano wants Klatt arrested.

It is highly unusual and problematic for a judge to insist on the charging of an individual as a condition for the signing of a warrant against another individual, if the allegations are true. Indeed, there may be valid basis for review by other judges for possible misconduct. However, whatever the merits of Klatts’ position on the warrant, it is abusive to seek the arrest of a judge for declining to sign a warrant. The police have the option to seeking judicial charges and even removal for misconduct. The mere fact that a judge refuses to sign a warrant is not a criminal matter.

The judge has previously questioned claims of probable cause on arrests to the anger of police and prosecutors.

We have seen other recent cases of prosecutors and police seeking criminal charges in disagreements with judges.

Source: ABC40 found on Reddit

Jonathan Turley