Current mood:

Fixin' for a fight

Oakland County Michigan Woman Jailed for Taking Kids to Jury Duty

To think I'm moving to Oakland County later this year. May I not be called to serve on jury duty before this judge!

Detroit Free Press: Judge's move to jail juror is criticized by state court
Mom had to weigh day care, civic duty
BY L.L. BRASIER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Carmela Khury, a stay-at-home mom in Rochester Hills, was juggling child care and a jury summons.

When she was late the second day of jury selection because her mother was undergoing oral surgery, a backup nanny fell through and her husband was already at work, she called Oakland County Circuit Court. Told the judge would arrest her if she didn't show up, she arrived at court late along with her 8-month-old and 3-year-old.

Circuit Judge Leo Bowman found her in contempt, ordered her to sit as a spectator for the expected two-week-long murder trial and sentenced her to 24 hours in the county jail, to be served after the trial.

It turns out he can't do this.

Bowman's actions came under fire from the State Court Administrative Office, an arm of the Michigan Supreme Court.

Deborah Green, an official with the State Court Administrative Office, faxed a letter to Bowman on Friday, noting he had no authority to hold jurors and demanding that he stop doing so, or she would seek sanctions against him.

Sanctions against a sitting judge. One doesn't see that often.

It is not the first time Bowman has been admonished for rough treatment of potential jurors. Green told Bowman to end heavy-handed treatment of potential jurors last summer following complaints.

Oh, really?

Khury wasn't the only potential juror to have a run-in with Bowman among the pool assembled for the latest murder trial against Jerome Hamilton, accused of murdering a Rib Rack restaurant manager in Lathrup Village.

In addition to holding Khury for days, the judge also detained Ramesh Sapra, a businessman, who told Bowman jury service would cause his small company harm because it was facing an upcoming deadline.

...

In other cases, Bowman detained for days: a Wayne State University medical student because he said his midterm exams would interfere with his jury duty; a woman who said she could not serve on a sex case because she had once been sexually assaulted, and a woman who said her husband's pending travel overseas would create a hardship for her family because she had no day care for her small children.

I see a pattern here. The New York Times does, too.

So it isn’t only parents without child care whom Bowman does not trust, but they certainly seem to be high on his list of those he assumes are trying to duck their civic duty.

Circuit Court Judges in Michigan have to stand for election. Let's see when this gentlemen's term is up for renewal by the voters.

OFFICIAL BALLOT
General Election
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Oakland County, Michigan
Waterford Township, Precinct 8(PDF)

JUDGE OF CIRCUIT COURT
6th CIRCUIT
INCUMBENT POSITION
Partial Term Ending 01/01/2013
Vote for not more than 1
Leo Bowman
Judge of Circuit Court

Looks like someone needs a challenger in two years.