There is an extraordinary story coming out of Georgia this week where two Murray County sheriff’s deputies pleaded guilty in federal court for their part in a scheme to frame a woman, Angela Garmley (left), after she accused Chief Magistrate Judge Bryant Cochran of soliciting sex from her in return to favorable treatment in her pending divorce case. Three other women have accused Cochran of such abuse.
Garmley says that on April 9, 2012, she went to the court in relation to an assault on her on the previous day. She says that Cochran asked to meet with her alone in his office and starting questioning her about the state of her marriage. She quotes him as saying “My wife doesn’t take care of my sexual needs and I need a mistress to have sex with I can trust.” She says that the judge said that he had “a real boner” for her and allegedly told her to “Come back on Wednesday with a dress and no panties so we can have sex.”
After she made the charge against Cochran, she was arrested for possession of methamphetamines. She insisted the drugs were planted in retaliation for the charge against Cochran. She was stopped by Deputy Josh Greeson as a passenger in a car because the driver failed to dim his headlights. Greeson used a drug dog to search the car after noticing Garmley stumble slightly and that she had “slurred speech.” Greeson said that the dog located a small metal can stuck under the driver’s door containing meth.
Garmley could have faced decades in jail and has now accused Cochran, two deputies, and a handyman named C.J. with the conspiracy.
Notably, the drug charge was dropped, but it takes one year for the charge to be removed from Garmley’s record.
The deputies are awaiting sentencing on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury.
Cochran has resigned. However, this came after an investigation into other violations of whether Cochran “allowed the prestige of his office to advance his private interests” and he “pre-signed blank arrest warrants for completion by law enforcement officers while he was absent from the office.” Before his resignation, Cochran dismissed the allegations by Garmley: “This is a politically timed, politically motivated personal attack on my family and I.”
The missing link here is the role of the former judge. If he was involved in the conspiracy, it is not clear why he has not been criminally charged. If he was not involved, what was the motivation for the conspiracy. Of course, even if that allegation is unproven or unsubstantiated, there appears more than enough basis for his removal if he had not resigned.
MikeP, The point I’m trying to make is if you kept a scorecard between Dem and Rep miscreants for all misdeeds it would be damn close.
sockpuppet, Every day I wake up is a good day. Thanks.
Nick,
Without pulling his voting record at the local elections office, I wouldn’t be so sure. The county he represents has gone Republican in presidential races for about 20 years. But at the county level, all the elected office holders were Democrats until the last couple of elections.
Blouise, Amen! That was my point. Although as far as sexual conduct or misconduct, I think David Souter and my main man Ralph Nader are asexual.
Folks, I’m tough on these bad actors, I merely refuse to believe they are anywhere near the majority. I base that on years of experience and as SWM stated, the bad actors get the press. There are few people walking the face of the earth that is tougher on attorneys than me, but I know most are good, some are great. It’s that bell curve.
Some people just need extra brain food….
Blouise,
Thinking with one’s crotch is truly not limited to any particular profession. It is, however, a universally poor substitute for using the brain.
bigfatmike, I had the same thought when I read the story. For every drug planting that is discovered, how many hundreds are not? I read the linked story and unfortunately it didn’t say how the drug planting came to light in this case. Michaelb, you seem to have more info on how the feds got involved and cracked the case. I’d be interested in finding out what happened.
nick,
Both parties are composed of human beings … Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court and Bill Clinton in the White House … just sayin’ …
AY,
Yep. These guys should be enjoying green bologna sandwiches until their court date.
“But, if you’re a glass half empty person you see many things in a negative way.” -good-ol’-jolly, ball-bustin’ St. Nick
Totally unnecessary and not true, IMPO.
Bottom line? Nick’s just lookin’ to get something goin’ and stirrin’ the pot.
BPD.
Have a good day, Nick.
Sorry…. I didn’t see the above… I should have included it in my initial response….
Yeah Gene, some judges are real ass kissers to the public…. While screwing the defense and or defendant….
nick, The bad judges get all the publicity just like the bad cops, the bad teachers, etc.etc. Last time I had jury duty I was falrly impressed with the judge.
Gene,
And isn’t that revolting….
Also, I’d like to know why criminal charges aren’t pending either.
AY,
Yep. In many jurisdictions they have a “brotherhood in black” mentality every bit as much as the cops have a “brotherhood in blue” mentality.
Nick,
I happen to agree with Mike S…. Especially when the other Judges look the other way….
Mike, Having worked in the justice system since 1975 I would strongly disagree w/ your assertion. But, if you’re a glass half empty person you see many things in a negative way.
Nick,
Having worked for and been a part of the Justice System I would think you would see it differently. Almost all people who go into criminal justice work of the various kinds enter it with the best of intentions. Documented through the years is the fact that a certain “esprit de corps” has led to even the best of LEO’s covering up their friends misdeeds out of a misguided sense of loyalty.
Sociologically, people who work as LEO’s and in the profession tend to develop an “us vs. them” mentality. The “Blue Wall of Silence” is quite real as Serpico found out.
That’s human nature, especially in dealing with the public which for them is primarily people of a lower economic class. Then too early on they discover that despite the purported support politicians give to LEO’s, they will be thrown under the bus if it suits politicians. They are generally intelligent people who “learn the score” quickly and are inculcated on the job by veterans. You may not understand this since you seem to see me as some “knee jerk liberal” who follows a party line, but you will find nothing in my writings that shows a hatred of the people who work in law enforcement. That’s because they are not the problem. It is the system that either creates those who are badged miscreants, or allows them to continue to abuse their authority.
Now when we talk about Judges in the system I find it no coincidence that we have another blog for today dealing with Judges.
http://jonathanturley.org/2013/06/13/nevada-woman-arrested-after-being-reportedly-assaulted-in-courtroom-by-marshal-as-judge-ignores-her-pleas/
While you’ve worked in the field, I have worked with the criminal justice system throughout my career. While I have run into a bad judge, or two in the Family Court system, my relationship with police and legal professionals has been quite cordial and collegiate. I’ve personally never run into a LEO or ADA that I felt was a bad person. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist and Professor Turley’s blog has certainly exposed the fact through the years that wrongdoing in the Judicial System is indeed a terrible problem our country faces.
Anita Hill might be able to shed some light on this matter Blouise….
I suppose she had no Bon appetite …..