Wednesday, April 6, 2005
That will cost you...
I was in Court this morning with a new judge (new to me). The child's attorney, which is known as the Guardian ad litem (GAL), was more than 30 minutes late. This, in turn, made the caregiver's attorney late for another hearing. This also made my attorney, the Assistant Attorney General (cool title, eh?) late for another hearing. The GAL was concerned that our judge was going to fine her for being late. She has fined my agency for court reports being turned in late. The caregiver's attorney was concerned that the judge that he was late for was going to fine him for being late. What kind of craziness is that? "You got stuck in traffic so I'm going to fine you a hundred dollars." WTF?? Maybe that's better than being held in contempt of court? I don't know. These judges, that are actually Magistrate Judges, are all on power trips. There's one judge that most social workers and attorneys despise. My supervisor remembers when that judge was not a judge, but just a lowly attorney, more specifically an educational advocate. And, he was bad at that job! So, now that he is a Magistrate Judge, is he trying to make up for his poor attorney skills by being anal and micromanaging every case that comes before him? I just don't know. I think there is a prerequisite when you apply for the Judge job that you must forget your roots and be condescending to all social workers and most attorneys. Where do I sign up?
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I wouldnt comment on the legal system, attorneys and Magistrate Judges until you are either an attorney, Judge or Magistrate. It is great that you are a social worker, but the vast majority of social workers have no clue what the legal system is about, what an attorney's life is like, or what goes on behind the scenes of a court. I personally, as a last year law student, work for a Judge, and their attitudes as a whole are not even close to what you describe in "your" experience.
ReplyDeleteThis is the experience that I have had, as have many others that I know, both in the Courts that I work at as well as other Courts. When I become a Judge, I'll let you know how I handle the job.
ReplyDeleteAttorneys, Judges, and Magistrates deserve the utmost respect due to the hard work and resources that goes into graduating with a JD. Upon your successful completion of law school, we'll talk.
ReplyDeleteResponse to CJ Montroy. The only people that will get my respect are the people that give me respect. Your education level and/or profession does not give you the right to talk down to people.
ReplyDeleteNot talking down to anyone. Just commenting to Suzanne that before you open your beak about something you are ignorant about, you should not be judging and stereotyping others.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you don't understand what talking down to someone means. Using the term "open your beak" would be considered doing so. And so you can stop getting bent out of shape OVER A BLOG, I don't have a lack of respect for attorneys and judges as a whole. I work with attorneys daily and I have a great deal of respect for what they do and the amount of work that goes into their job. I don't respect people who think they are better than others simply because they hold a JD. I'd like to see you take your people skills and work with parents who are abusing their children, work with children who have to live in foster homes, and work with families who are being torn apart by violence and drugs. You may think you are better than me because you are working toward your JD, but I get alot of satisfaction out of helping families and children. I think you have proven that you have the skills to argue, but you need to work on your people skills.
ReplyDeleteHmm.. I author petitions for modification of custody, I work with the Family Court,Child Support Magistrates and Law Guardians and in fact, am a step mother to two children in same situation. People skills.. Looks like you do not have the monopoly on those. FYI, the Judge I work for runs the highest volume Therapeutic drug and gambling court in New York State.. I do not know anything about the sort of things you do, correct? Give me a break.
ReplyDeleteSince your skills include belittling me and my profession and reminding me how awesome yours is, I refuse to argue with you anymore. Enjoy your profession, and try to remember that social workers are hard workers too.
ReplyDelete