Judge of the Day: Holly Hollenbeck
A recent trend: judges who are touchy about courtroom attire. Last week we wrote about Judge William Sosnay, who is no fan of ascots. Now meet Judge Holly Hollenbeck:
Bev Williams of Richland wears a knitted beanie cap to cover her hairless head everywhere she goes, but not in Judge Holly Hollenbeck's courtroom.The District Court judge told Williams, 43, to take her cap off or leave his court in the Benton County Justice Center on Friday morning.
"I was embarrassed. It made me cry," said Williams, who recently underwent six months of chemotherapy for cancer.
But Judge Holly Hollenbeck -- who's a man, by the way, so he ain't no Hollenbeck girl [FN1] -- has a rebuttal:
"I ask everybody to remove hats," he said, noting the only reason he has allowed one — once — was for a religious reason.Hollenbeck said, "I am very understanding with people who battle with cancer. My own mother died from cancer. I've had hundreds of cancer victims come through my court, and I've never had one not remove their hat, ever."
He added, "Refusal to remove shows contempt for the court and for the judge."
So what do you think? Is Judge Hollenbeck's position reasonable? Or is this s**t bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s?
By the way, with respect to our earlier poll, almost 55 percent of you don't think an ascot is appropriate courtroom attire.
[FN1] Nor should Judge Holly A. Hollenbeck be confused with motivational speaker Holly H. Hollenbeck, author of Sex Lives of Wives: Reigniting the Passion, and proprietress of PassionSeekers.com.
Judge's strict no-hat rule upsets cancer patient [Seattle Times]
(109) Comments
I'm ok with what the judge did.
Smart of the judge to mention the fact that his own mother died of cancer.
Hollaback girl? Really?
While our wit is at its topical zenith, I think you should structure the next blog post around the burning question of Who Let The Dogs Out.
I think that's awful. This really upsets me. People going through treatments have to deal with so much, including the looks from people because of their appearance. I cannot believe this judge would add to their pain.
1:22, so undergoing chemotherapy is a license to do whatever you want? Heck, the judge should have dismissed the charge against this woman's daughter, because the charge in itself probably added to her pain.
I hardly think leaving one's hat on under those circumstances (particularly when its a woman - let's face it, a bald head on a man is an entirely different ballgame) constitutes showing the court disrespect.
On the contrary, forcing the cancer victim to remove her hat is an instance of the court failing to act with common decency. His comments afterwards are merely CYA rationalizations by a fraction of a man who just outed himself as not having nearly enough character to hold his position.
Agreed with a noni mouse 100%.
A sign of disrespect to the court and the judge? If anything, it's the other way around.
The Judge is an idiot.
The lawyer should have worn a wig.
The desire to save yourself from looking weird is not a valid excuse. She was still being disrespectful. This isn't like requiring a wheel chair bound person to rise upon the judge entering, because there the person physically cannot do it.
Excuse me, can you please point me to the part of the poll where I can vote for Shit Bananas. Those are my favorite.
1:46,
How is wearing a beanie to cover your chemotherapy hairless head disrespectful?
The “I have black friends argument” to mention his mother. Who cares?
I clerked for a federal judge a couple of years ago, and what made her so great is how she constantly worked to ensure that the parties AND counsel were ok. She got so much respect because she gave respect, and her rulings were practical and flexible.
That judge should have adjusted to ensure that the lawyer would not be put in an uncomfortable position. In balancing interests, whose feelings matter most in the situation? The judge, who would feel slighted because some cancer-victim has the nerve to wear a head-covering in front of him, or the cancer-victim, who has to remove the head-covering to expose her balding scalp because of chemo?
1:52, this woman is not an attorney. She was in the gallery.
Perfect example of form of substance. Just b/c an act is ok within the legal parameters, doesn't make it morally acceptable. In other words, he was within the purview of judicial power to tell her to take the hat off, but he is an uber-dick for doing so.
Get a wig.
Point being, people with illnesses have no business going around in public scaring children. Her efforts to carry herself with dignity and normalcy clearly indicate contempt for law and order.
That said, Lat - please bring back the "state judges are clowns" tag.
Reminds me of the time Dubya made fun of the blind journalist for wearing sunglasses while addressing His Presidentialness.
I hope Holly (what dude is named Holly?) gets cancer. That would be sweet.
A guy I had lunch with today told me that last week his opposing counsel was thrown out of court by the judge for wearing red shoes. (And they weren't hooker shoes either, but dark red with a 1" heel.)
The Judge is probably upset she had more hair on her bald head than he can grow on his testosterone deprived scrotum.
What an ASS. Did an authority figure ever abuse his power and require the judge's mom to walk around bald and self-conscious?
While I am sympathetic to cancer survivors, it's still this woman's fault. If she were a better mother, her daughter wouldn't have been in court and all of this could have been avoided. The judge is still an ass though.
Isn't it considered both entirely traditional, respectful and proper for women to wear hats indoors?
Lat, please call Miss Manners.
The judge doesn't know much because traditionally, women's and men's hats have completely different etiquette rules. A man leaving his hat on inside was the height of rudeness but women didn't remove hats indoors because the hat was part of her outfit. While this situation is definitely different, it sounds like the judge was trying to enforce some kind of old-fashioned etiquette and if you're going to do that, you should at least get it right.
My judge asks men to remove their coats and hats. Generally he permits woman to keep their hats on. Although a knit cap may be a different story.
"While I am sympathetic to cancer survivors, it's still this woman's fault. If she were a better mother, her daughter wouldn't have been in court and all of this could have been avoided."
Why is it the mother's fault and not the father's? Maybe he was neglectful while she was too busy trying not to, you know, DIE, to keep her daughter from, what, running a red light? A misdemeanor hardly means she was selling drugs to little kids and then luring them down to her basement for her kiddie porn side business. Asshole.
She never would have caught the cancer if she had worn a condom, or as some might call it, a Jimmy-Hat.
3:01, I think you're confusing cancer with AIDS. It's a common mistake. If you're retarded.
Judges should be sanctioned for enforcing any sort of draconian dress code. Keeping people from wearing something indecent or from wearing something which might cause a disturbance in the court is ok, but anything more than that is ridiculous.
A wig is just a hat with hair on it.
2:50 is correct. Different rules for men and women.
1) 1:48 = BPSF, for the indirect reference to "happy gilmore"
2) the collective sense of humor reflected in the comments is astoundingly lacking. in particular, i'm talking about 2:56(2), who in responding to 2:31(1) failed to a) pick up on the sarcasm, b) even though 2:31 actually labeled him/herself "sarcastic." wtf?!
2:56,
Obviously you don't understand the meaning of the word sarcastic. Lighten up. And where did you come up with selling drugs and kiddie porn? You're worse than Hillary Clinton in manufacturing accusations.
Just another example of how so many judges - state AND Federal, so don't give me the "Federal judges are better" line - are petty tyrants.
The smart thing to do would have been for the judge to call the woman up to the bench and discreetly ask her what the problem was that prevented her from removing her hat, rather than embarrassing her in public. The least he could have done would be to send his bailiff over to ask the woman, privately, what her story was.
I mean, look - judges have to maintain decorum, especially in general-jurisdiction misdemeanor courts, which can be real zoos sometimes. But, damn, there's a difference between someone waltzing into court wearing a bandanna or a trucker cap and a lady who is recovering from chemo...
That woman was disrespecting the court. There was no reason for her to get special treatment. She is lucky she wasn't held for contempt. Is it any wonder that her daughter was in court facing charges?
This judge needs to get over himself.
He's a small potatoes judge in a district court.
As long as she wasn't wearing a Cat in the Hat hat or something distracting, what difference does it make that some woman in the gallery has a hat on for whatever reason?
The fact that she's a cancer patient just serves to make this petty little grandiose tyrant look like more of a jerk as does his explanation.
Count me as one who is in contempt of the court. Arrest me.
Special accommodations are instinctively made (at least by decent people) for illness. If the rules require something dumb we make an exception.
Making this lawyer uncover her bald chemo-radiation head was mean and stupid.
What a prick. Not to mention that he's made exceptions for religious reasons.
3:36: "Petty tyrants" describes the situation perfectly.
It's not like we have to dig very deep to see why he's toting such a big chip on his shoulder. "Holly Hollenbeck." I mean, his parents even had the nerve to make it alliterative.
3:43(2), just a guess, but I have to believe "Holly" is a nickname, like "Smitty" or "Jonesy."
I'm the orig 1:52. Sorry, I didn't read closely. I though the woman was an attorney.
BUT NOW THAT I SEE THAT SHE WAS IN FACT JUST AN ONLOOKER IN A *PUBLIC* COURT PROCEEDING, EVERYTHING I SAID ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND BALANCING INTERESTS GOES OUT THE WINDOW. Not.
(Priceless that someone would point out that she isn't a lawyer rather than addressing the substance of my post. In other words, [slowly], the rationale didn't in any way depend on what her job is, but rather whether she should be treated kindly by a judge who should know better.)
4:08: Surely you're not failing to see a distinction between an onlooker and an advocate.
The desire to save yourself from looking foolish is not a justifiable excuse.
Why waste time arguing here. Just make your thoughts known to the court administrator at the following email.
jacki.lahtinen@co.benton.wa.us
4:15: "Foolish"? She didn't get her head shaved at a frat party, for Christ's sake.
4:26, I'm not sure I understand what Christ's sake has to do with this post.
I am the all powerful judge...you must remove they cover before me.
What a power freak.
I think we should all bit^h-slap judges once a year to remind them that they are scumbag public servants. Slaves to the public, not vice versa.
I am in contempt of that and all arrogant courts. Fornicate yourself, Judge.
Please email me to arrange a meeting where I can denigrate you in person, fecal-face.
Granted the judge was on a power trip, but the right thing to do would have been to request permission beforehand to wear a hat, in light of the fact that the person in question is a cancer patient. If such permission was requested, I doubt the judge would have refused.
Since it wasn't requested in advance, the judge has a stronger argument with regard to a "no exceptions" policy. You can't just show up wearing something that's against the rules and not say a word about it, no matter who you are.
The fact the judge accomodates people who need to wear headcoverings for religious reasons, yet won't accomodate a cancer victim is pathetic. Secular country my ass.
I think the court administrator's email account should be inundated with complaints about this Judge's insensitivity. What a fucking asshole. Idiots like him on power trips are part of the reason our profession is looked upon with such disdain by the rest of reasonable society.
7:55: I agree. Without judges, the legal profession would have a much better reputation.
6:17, how the fuck is a random citizen supposed to know about a random judge's arcance and bizarre court rules, AND know that she has to request special dispensation beforehand to sit in the gallery (as is her right as a citizen) wearing her normal, acceptable everyday attire?
That judge needs to be booted
I realise that judges need to demand respect in their courtrooms but this seems a bit excessive...We all must consider each situation in demanding the rule because if we don't then the one's not meant for the rule will suffer...That's why we are rethinking capital punishment...A judge of more import would have understood this...But I guess we have little people not just at the DMV but behind the bench...Alas...Cmor
I realise that judges need to demand respect in their courtrooms but this seems a bit excessive...We all must consider each situation in demanding the rule because if we don't then the one's not meant for the rule will suffer...That's why we are rethinking capital punishment...A judge of more import would have understood this...But I guess we have little people not just at the DMV but behind the bench...Alas...Cmor
What a friggin power trip. I don't care who the hell you are. Not removing shows contempt of court? Are you kidding me? People get away with far worse crap in court. No wonder our legal system sucks, it is full of judges who have no interest in the well being of our society. Tell me you would have thrown her in jail for contempt as well. Try explaining THAT to the people of Iraq when promoting our democracy, just replace Judge with Saddam, and they will know exactly what we are talking about.
sad that anyone defends assholes like this - lets gang up on the cancer victim cos we are still angry about being picked last for kickball/never getting laid/whatever
Judge Hollenbeck is CONTEMPTIBLE and deserves to be treated with CONTEMPT if he believes that a cancer victim's wearing a hat in his court to save herself embarrassment somehow constitutes contempt of court. One only hopes that someday this Hollenbeck character finds himself in from of a judge who deems that wearing a red tie constitutes a political statement and threatens Hollenbeck with a contempt of court citation unless he removes his red tie.
Hollenbeck is fit to serve only as the all powerful Wizard of Oz.
It is my fervent hope that he soon requires extremely debilitating chemotherapy or radiation treatment or both. If he should die of cancer, all I would have to say is "Tough luck, asshole."
A browbeating judge like him who refuses to show common decency regarding an arbitrary rule of his own making deserves nothing but contempt, ill-will, and removal from the bench.
Some judges are just too, too full of themselves.
First, I am a cancer survivor and have lost my hair twice to chemo. Even though I was 27 when I lost my hair the first time and it was considered cool to be bald I was still self-conscious about this and I am male. Women are typically ten times more self concsious with regards to their hair. Sitting in a cancer center almost every day for several months you learn what's important to other cancer patients.
This woman just wanted to be as normal as possible. He desiring to wear her cap is her best attempt at being as normal as possible. How can this show disrespect to the court? Simple answer: It doesn't.
The truth is that this poor excuse of a judge is on a power kick. If his judgement is so poor on something like this he surely doesn't have any business being a judge. People in his jurisdiction should be seriously questioning if he is fit for this role.
And to those who criticize the woman, until you have been in her shoes shut up. You are truly ignorant of the psychological effects of cancer as is the judge despite his statement that his mother died of cancer.
Another corrupt nutball bag-of-wind judge who mistakes the public court system as his own personal fiefdom. This unmanly, ungentlemanly greaseball is probably upset because he has a girlie name to go with his hideous troll-like existence. The preponderance of problems with our government lies in the ultra-corrupt, completely un-American judicial system -- and in self-serving, self-important, pompous ass, a$$hole creeps like this presiding over the court systems at every level. Vote this motherless bastard out.
You know, some folks are dramatic for their own personal reasons, and I'm not talking about the judge. The lady could have very easily been wearing a wig - most folks are provided one at low or no cost while undergoing chemo.
God bless her, and I hope her cancer can be treated. But I also hope that she's not an opportunist, intentionally refusing to wear a wig so that she can be 'outed' and 'embarrased'.
On the other end of the spectrum, traditionally it is OK for women to wear hats indoors (ie: church) where it is taboo for men to do so.
Does this same judge object to Muslim women wearing veils in his court room?
Anyone as interested as they are offended can file a complant with the judical conduct committee in Olympia. You can pull a two page form off the internet and fax the form immediately. The committee is unique in that it gurantees to protect the identity of a complainant and specifically cautions any filer not to divulge that he or she has filed.
This insensitive bastard is hearing cases? Would he order someone in a wheelchair to stand or cite them for contempt?
Well I only needed to hear one judgement out of him, he needs to go
turns out the judge is getting a lot of flak for strict enforcement of his.. rules of attire, now he worries of political backlash so he calls the lady and says.. "sorry". Then is interviewed about it for damage control.
what a POS this dude.. Holly is. He could care less about her personal feelings but when he worries about getting re-elected he turns all sobby sobby and apologises.
this arrogant f_cking POS should be thrown out NOW!!
Does the judge have an e-mail address?
The Judge has publicly apologized to the woman and has permanently removed the anti-hat rule from his courtroom. I say it is too little, too late, but at least he has admitted he was wrong.
Wait, was the fat woman with cancer in the hat that Judge Hollenback slapped at the bar a summer associate or not? And who threw the drink?
I took an ex-client to small claims court back in 1989. I wore a pair of gauchos with a blazer. Even though the gauchos came past my knee, and I had on hosery with heels, the judge told me that "shorts" were not acceptable in his courtroom. I explained to him that I was wearing gauchos, NOT shorts and the length of them were appropriate business attire. He disagreed and asked me to leave. Fortunately for me, a friend who is an attorney was there on other business, and he took over for me. Also, fortunately for me, the gaucho craze is over. Anyway, this judge was a jerk in plain English. I was NOT WEARING shorts and I looked more professional than anyone in that courtroom. Judges are idiots at times. Power hungry idiots.
10:24 - post of the day!
Thanks for bringing back the summer memories - good times, good times.
RE:
Point being, people with illnesses have no business going around in public scaring children. Her efforts to carry herself with dignity and normalcy clearly indicate contempt for law and order.
That said, Lat - please bring back the "state judges are clowns" tag.
Posted by: it's funny b/c it's true | January 14, 2008 02:12 PM
YOU are a pig. People who are ill should stay at home, not go out in public? How about we teach our kids tolerance, about illness, about compassion? I sure hope you aren't raising any of the next generation...and I hope nobody in your family ever gets cancer, you'll just lock them up. @@ People like you are what makes the world rotten these days. Get a clue.
I agree with many here. I have seen Hollenbeck in action. He is a pompous, angry, full of himself, jerk. He basically has no respect for anybody in his courtroom...nice to see he hasn't changed in 13 years. @@ I have seen him be rude to many, many people. He thinks he is the God Almighty, clearly a Judge who has let his authority go to his head. In todays paper he said it could hurt his chance at holding his seat. Well, I guess we know the real reason why he apologized to Williams, now...he's afraid of losing control. What a creep. I am hoping he does not retain his posistion, he is in need of a huge reality check.
I agree with many here. I have seen Hollenbeck in action. He is a pompous, angry, full of himself, jerk. He basically has no respect for anybody in his courtroom...nice to see he hasn't changed in 13 years. @@ I have seen him be rude to many, many people. He thinks he is the God Almighty, clearly a Judge who has let his authority go to his head. In todays paper he said it could hurt his chance at holding his seat. Well, I guess we know the real reason why he apologized to Williams, now...he's afraid of losing control. What a creep. I am hoping he does not retain his posistion, he is in need of a huge reality check.
I agree with many here. I have seen Hollenbeck in action. He is a pompous, angry, full of himself, jerk. He basically has no respect for anybody in his courtroom...nice to see he hasn't changed in 13 years. @@ I have seen him be rude to many, many people. He thinks he is the God Almighty, clearly a Judge who has let his authority go to his head. In todays paper he said it could hurt his chance at holding his seat. Well, I guess we know the real reason why he apologized to Williams, now...he's afraid of losing control. What a creep. I am hoping he does not retain his posistion, he is in need of a huge reality check.
this is not the first incident this judge has been involved in. This judge ridicules all most every defendant that steps in to his court room. If you have a misdemeanor in another county or even in another state. He will tell you he does not care how you get there just get there and tells the defendant to break the law and hitch hike, and threatens you with lock up if you do not comply with his commands. This Judge is always on top of watch going on on in his Court room but when a Public Defender and a City Prosecutor was pocketing stolen fine money from defendants, He told investigators he knew nothing was going on. Hog wash he knew everything and lied to the investigators and the public. this judge is as crooked as they come. I am glad that me my self have never had to appear in front of this judge. But I have sat in his Court room many times as he be Little all most every defendant that comes in his door. It's time this judge is replaced.
It is obvious the judge made a bad decision. Judges think they can operate without showing any remorse for people in the courtroom which is unacceptable. People should have respect for the courtroom but when showing respect for the courtroom crosses the line like in this case it has gone too far. The judge should have enough common sense to understand where the line should be drawn and this judge apparently has a flaw in his judgment. This makes me question his ability to preside over his courtroom when he can not figure out what is right and what is wrong. Judges over time tend to loose focus on reality because their presence is held in such high esteem. Thank god this judge is placed in office by the voters. He will definitely pay at election time. What is really sad is the fact that he back tracked after the figured out he was up the creak without a paddle. Too little too late, judge. Learn to show respect for your court but don’t forget it’s the people that make up your court not the other way around. That fact is trivial.
Gauchos? In court? I'd have tossed you, too. Court attire is very simple: suits for men (with real ties) and dresses for ladies. Pantsuits for ladies are acceptable in state courts not of record. If you can't handle that, get another job.
What is wrong with this picture? What is wrong with some of you that have responded to this? Do you not know what cancer does to someone? Do you not know what it feels like not knowing if you are going to live or die and to have to fight the public with looking at you like you are a FREAK because you don't have any hair or maybe you just don't have money to but a flippin WIG because all the money you've already spent paying medical bills or prescriptions. The judge is an ASS and his time will come when he will be judged by someone much higher than he is.... GOD HELP HIM! as far as this comment that someone made this really pisses me off!!!! I am a damn good mother but I can't be held responsible for what my kids do!!!! Obviously you live in a glass house - what out for falling rocks!
While I am sympathetic to cancer survivors, it's still this woman's fault. If she were a better mother, her daughter wouldn't have been in court and all of this could have been avoided. The judge is still an ass though.
The post is a bit misleading. Williams was only in the courtroom as a visitor. She didn't need to be there.
Clearly Hollenbeck is nuts but within the rights granted to him by law.
You must live in a glass house too!!!! Here's a tought - she was there for her child, obviusly you must not have children either. I didn't realize so many lived in glass houses. The Judge is a Judge not GOD! Where is his compassion for people who are sick. Oh, that's right I forgot, his compassion is only for religion.
You must live in a glass house too!!!! Here's a thought - she was there for her child, obviusly you must not have children either. I didn't realize so many lived in glass houses. The Judge is a Judge not GOD! Where is his compassion for people who are sick. Oh, that's right I forgot, his compassion is only for religion.
Note that the Judge only became "remorseful" AFTER he realized that it would hurt his reelection chances. The guy is clearly an a** infatuated by his own importance and lacking sufficient wisdom to serve as a judge. I will certainly not be voting for him next time around.
Back in the day, men wore fedoras, bowlers, and other formal dressy hats, which they ALWAYS removed indoors (a "hat check" was often provided for this purpose). Woman wore fancy hats that coordinated with their outfits, and which they did NOT remove while indoors. Look at an old movie from the 30s or 40s, and you'll see women appearing in court and other formal settings, with their elegant hats pinned firmly in place.
We don't live in the age of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and to the extent that men or women wear hats in the 21st century they tend to be ballcaps, beanies, skullcaps, or other informal hats that really are not appropriate courtroom dress. So in general, a rule against wearing hats is a reasonable one.
But just as a religious exception is reasonable, so too should the judge have made an exception for a cancer patient.
In fact, by trying to cover up her bald head, this woman was not only trying to protect her own dignity, but was also in a sense showing respect to the court. A bald head is not customary on women in our society, and going to court bald almost certainly looked more out of place, attracted more attention, and was more "disruptive" to the proceedings than wearing a knitted cap.
congrats to the self important judge Holly, you have just earned your 15 minutes of fame (or should that be infamy)
you insisted on your crackpot hat rule and now have the attention you craved.. ass_ole
everyone knows you now.. so just go away and stop being an embarassment to your proffession
I witnessed this hat thing in court myself 10 years ago. Whatever happened to the 1st amendment and just the general idea that people are free to wear what they want? This isn't a kingdom, it's a judge in a court paid for by the citizens.
As long as the attire is reasonably respectful (not a bathing suit or whatever) why should the Judge's personal beliefs about ettiquite prevail in a people's court?
I was personally offended at the attitude that you have to somehow "bow down" to the court by removing one's hat. That is a classic sign of submission. Bleech.
I witnessed this hat thing in court myself 10 years ago. Whatever happened to the 1st amendment and just the general idea that people are free to wear what they want? This isn't a kingdom, it's a judge in a court paid for by the citizens.
As long as the attire is reasonably respectful (not a bathing suit or whatever) why should the Judge's personal beliefs about ettiquite prevail in a people's court?
I was personally offended at the attitude that you have to somehow "bow down" to the court by removing one's hat. That is a classic sign of submission. Bleech.
I attended a jury pool once that was summoned and was told to dress sutible to the dignity of the court...
I wore my one tie and coat...
The prospective juror next to me wore a Polo golf shirt... which was nicer than what I had on...
Before the lunch break, the Brunswick, Georgia, judge asked the man to stand and dressed him down for not wearing a tie and suit coat... to which the man said he didn't own a tie or suit...
The judge told him to buy them during lunch and if he didn't return wearing them in an hour, he would be held in comtempt of court!
I vote on every occasion... I haven't voted for an incumbent judge of any kind since...
This judge only humbled himself after being exposed!
I don't believe his apology...
I support this beautiful lady, Bev Williams 100%...
I apologize to her for this show of false-royalty...
That was really inexcusable for a judge to tell a juror to go buy a coat and tie. Jurors should be respectful, but they shouldn't be forced to buy new clothes (which some may not be able to afford) just to exercise their right to serve on a jury. That incident would be an excellent reason to vote against that particular judge.
But its not a good excuse for someone to vote against EVERY incument judge of any kind ever since then, without knowing more about them.
This comment highlights one of the problems with elected judges - the public usually doesn't know enough about them and about the legal system to know what they are voting on. In judicial elections, my mother used to vote for every woman on the ballot - she had no idea who anyone was, but she figured it was good to have more women in there. She may have been voting for corrupt judges, and voting out good ones. Or for that matter, she may have been voting for men named "Pat" or "Kelly" that she incorrectly assumed to be women. Voting against every incumbent judge because of a bad experience once with one judge is equally silly.
At the courthouse I go to regularly, the sheriffs are the ones that deal with hats, and they generally only tell men to remove them. I think, etiquettely (is that a word?) speaking, that it is only rude for a man to wear a hat in doors.
I think that forcing a bald woman to remove her hat was very insenstive and just a way to exert some power over someone. Have some discretion, assh0le.
Washington judges are known for acting as Go The worst one was Judge Fritzler but his attitude finally caught up with him and he was removed after having an affair with his court clerk, the 2nd time. His fellow judges knew but did nothing until extreme pressure was placed on them. It was the old boys locker room mentality that seems to be common in the state of Washington. CORRUPT along with the DA's.
Too many of these district court judges act like they sit on the Supreme Court. Where I live (Virginia), the judges are appointed by the state legislature, so we get who ever bribes, I mean donates the most to the right politicians. I guess in this case, this guy was elected, so hopefully the voters will correct their mistake during the next election. We have to storm the state capitol with torches and pitch forks to get a bad judge removed in Virginia.
Anonymous, maybe I need to go further...
And then there was the time I watched a trial where the judge would lean back in his chair... stay very still... with his eyes shut... all the while the defense attorney would be working...
But when the prosecutor had the floor... he would be leaning forward over the bench... very facially expressive... and taking notes...
Hmmm... I wonder if there were any subliminal messages were in his actions?
It was poor theater by another rural Georgia judge...
Footnote... I wasn't the prosecuted...
1/2 of you people here make me sick with your insensitive comments here about this woman and her character as a parent. Her character as a parent isn't what this story was about people. It's about her wearing a knit cap and keeping her dignity and this asshole judge who's a pompous insensitive twit for telling her to remove it!! If she wanted to wear a wig, she would've worn one. Ever wear a wig?!?! Ever have cancer?!?! Ever watch a loved one die of cancer?!?! I have! This woman is trying to live her life as normal as possible... Kudo's to you Bev!!
I agree that if it were a hat that could possibly be concealing some kind of weapons..TAKE OFF YOUR HAT!!! but... come on a beanie! give me a break!!I'm originally from Washington State in fact I was born in Kennewick, Washington I'm ashamed that "some people" in this day and age feel like they are above any other human being! you were voted into that position by the people you are no better because your a Judge. maybe as punishment you should have to take some classes on getting some "Class"
Foot Note to my above Comment: I really do hope Mrs. Williams daughter is reading each and everyone of these comments maybe she will straighten up and realize her Mother has already been to hell and back and doesn't deserve anymore stress in her life then she already has.... Grow Up!
AMEN TO THE ABOVE COMMENT!!
Says a variety of folks that are probably pissed off at him because he ruled against them. He runs his courtroom in a consistent and firm manner, but he's a fair man. It's a far bigger virtue to be a fair judge than be popular. He apologized quite adequately and is human. Demagogue him and seek out an alternative that tells you what you want to hear and you'd lose a great jurist.
My hopes are with the good people of Benton county,I may be moving there in the near future and I surely hope this IDIOT gets voted off the bench next election.
I know this judge personally through work, he is an arrogant SOB who treats his own employees like trash! Defendants would be dogmeat.
I know this judge personally through work, he is an arrogant SOB who treats his own employees like trash! Defendants would be dogmeat.
I live in the Tri-Cities area where this happened. When I opened my paper and read the article, I was sickened all day about what the judge did to this poor lady! What an arrogant display of power! Maybe a man whose first name is "Holly" needs to feed his ego any chance he gets!!
People who cause pain to cancer patients, and who humiliate and stress those going through chemotherapy, are a special kind of low. A special kind of evil. A special kind of WRONG.
Stressing a cancer patient can hurt her chances of survival. There really are no words... I hope this Holly dude feels some CONSEQUENCES soon. There's no excuse for kicking someone when she's down like that. What a nasty, fecal excuse for a man.
I provided defense to indigent misdemeanor defendants for 15 years and this provided me the same perspective the judge has: everybody in that courtroom is a potential squirrel and fraud. All the squirrels try to wear what they want to court.
Our courts don't provide "justice" whatever that is. They provide procedure--and that provides fairness.
Here's what the judge did wrong: he needed a procedure for religios and chemo patients wearing hats. This simple: either a sign on the door "If you require to wear a head covering, get permission from the Clerk's office" or he just announces that in court. He shouldn't handle each case himself--just send the person out to get permission. Do not dispense justice, comply with procedure.
Hollenbeck just made news again! He allowed a DUI driver with a blood-alcohol level 0.227 percent(by law 0.08 percent is considered too drunk to drive)to skip an eight-hour sobriety hold in jail so she could get home to pack for a two-week vacation to Europe that started the next morning. See full story at
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/238058.html
What a hypocrite!
I live in benton county the judges here are the law and the jails are very full most are non volient crimes aginst the mighty and powerfull state of wa. the feds finally shut down the DOLLARS FOR DEALS program that allowed the well off to pay there way out of there crimes. the judges in benton county expect to treated like gods they instruct jurys that the law is interpeted by the judge alone.