If I had false teeth, I would have "dropped them", as they say, when I read the headline today -- "Baltimore Judge Marries Accused Abuser to Victim During Trial to Avoid Testimony." !!!!!!!!!
What?? The story in today's Baltimore Sun newspaper relates that Frederick Wood appeared in court to face a second-degree assault charge, stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident between Wood and his fiance.
Wood pleaded not guilty and his fiance was refusing to testify against him (despite the fact that she told the police that Wood "smacked her in the face, kicked her and banged her head against a wall and then dragged her").
SO -- Wood's defense attorney "ASKED THE JUDGE FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO ALLOW WOOD AND THE ALLEGED VICTIM TO GET MARRIED, SO THAT THE VICTIM COULD INVOKE MARITAL PRIVILEGE." !!!
The judge replied, "WELL, WHY DON'T I JUST MARRY THEM TODAY IN COURT?" !!! Jaw dropping . . . .
So he allowed Wood to leave the court for 2 hours, to drive WITH HIS FIANCE/VICTIM to get a marriage license.
He then married them in his office and dismissed the case later in the court because his new "wife" wouldn't testify against him.
The case broke on the local news station, and Judge G. Darrell Russell Jr. was promptly removed from the bench and assigned to administrative duties by Chief Judge Ben Clyburn. At least someone in that court house has some sense.
What do you think of a judge who would do something like this?
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