Thu
Sep 27 2007
01:05:pm
Article re. Judge Young in the News Sentinel
By: R. Neal  shortURL

The Knoxville News Sentinel has an article about Judge Young in today's paper.

It basically says that he asks for patience until he can tell his side of the story. According to the article, the Judicial Code of Conduct prevents him from talking about it until thirty days after the hearing.

There are also remarks by a representative from the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Commentary after the jump...

Based on the reports so far, the letter to the editor in the Daily Times from the husband's lawyer, and some of the discussion here, it's probably safe to conclude that there are many sides to the story and that we still don't know all the facts yet.

The letter to the editor was interesting, because it stated that neither Judge Young nor the husband's lawyer had a thorough understanding of the law regarding the issues in this case.

Because there was no interpreter, and no transcribed record of the hearing, it's hard to say what really happened. It's possible that Ms. Calixto was understandably scared, confused, and not understanding what was being said or the context.

On the other hand, there's wide-ranging consensus that everyone has equal protection under the law regardless of their immigration status. Whether Ms. Calixto made a convincing argument for an order of protection is another question entirely. But language barriers and lack of a translator may have affected her ability to do so (and perhaps her lack of an attorney as stated by her husband's lawyer in the letter to the editor).

It sounds as though there should be translators available to all parties for situations like this. And as a note to myself for future reference, I'm thinking it's a good idea to have a court reporter at any kind of hearing, even if I have to pay for it myself.

Topics:

The letter to the editor was

Submitted by mello on Thu, 09/27/2007 - 14:28.

The letter to the editor was interesting, because it stated that neither Judge Young nor the husband's lawyer had a thorough understanding of the law regarding the issues in this case.

R- that is what I found to be most interesting in that LTTE. I am sure in two weeks or so we can all go back to sleep and know everything is well in Blount County.....

JUDGE YOUNG AND NOW AP

Submitted by lucy furr on Sat, 10/06/2007 - 17:13.

FIRST OF ALL GREAT JOB RICK LANEY FOR BREAKING THIS STORY OUT IN A SMALL TOWN SETTING. SECOND , JUDGE YOUNG DESERVES WHATEVER COMES HIS WAY FOR SPEWING OUT A COMMENT LIKE THAT IN THE COURT OF LAW. AND THIRD NOW THE AP GOT HOLD OF THIS STORY AND IT IS GETTING RECOGNITION AROUND THE GLOBE. WOW ! WHAT A GREAT WAY TO PUT MARYVILLE AND BLOUNT COUNTY ON THE MAP !

Lucy Furr

Submitted by local_yokel on Sat, 10/06/2007 - 22:41.

You've stimulated some real mixed feelings in this here local. I hate the idea that the place I call home would be put on the map with this kind of crap and set us back 40 years. On the other hand, if it makes A&E think twice before naming Maryville as one of the top small cities to live before we have some plan to handle the infrastructure required by the new growth, so be it.

“We think that is

Submitted by Terry on Sun, 10/07/2007 - 13:52.

“We think that is outrageous,” Walsh said. “Whether you are here legally or not, if you are being victimized or abused, we should provide protection.”
This is a quote by Kathy Walsh, head of the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. And this is exactly how I feel about this case. It should not have mattered whether she was here legally or not.

I have read it would cost too much to care for illegals. But what is the cost of an injuried person? What is the cost of a possible murder? And what is the cost of an Amber Alert, if he took these American born children? Not even considering the cost of life, look at the cost of trials, jail, hospitals, child care, etc.

But this is only part of the problem. I have two friends that went through the Blount County legal system. Although they both had children who had been sexually abused, the cases were dismissed. One was not given protection from her abusive husband. The courts would not help her collect child support. I could go on. But the Blount County Court System is not known for helping any woman. (Both of these women are Americans, actually born in this county. They are not Latino but this did not help them.)

Terry

I don't think I know you,

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 11:16.

I don't think I know you, but I feel like I could have been one of those friends of yours. The same thing happened to me. I live in Knox County now. My ex is well connected in blount county and this advantage has served him well. Unfortunately his "advantage" has caused irreparable harm to our children over the past 10 years. I finally got fed up with spending thousands of dollars on attorney fees to try to protect them through the court system and began investing the money into professional counseling, which has turned out to be the best thing I could have done. But I am convinced there is a day coming that both my ex and this judge will be accountable for their actions. You see, the truth has never changed, only the manner in which it's been handled.

I wonder if any of the

Submitted by yellowdog on Mon, 10/08/2007 - 11:43.

I wonder if any of the Powers That Be, who want growth and the unlimited recruiting of new employers to Blount County, have figured out that the kind of publicity BC is getting is not likely to encourage anybody we might actually want here to come here...or stay here.

local_yokel has a good point. It is similar to the "improving the roads" issue: do we really want to "improve" the roads so it is even easier to live here and commute to Knoxville and Oak Ridge?

Has anyone seen the Daily

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 10/10/2007 - 19:47.

Has anyone seen the Daily Times today??? Yet another story regarding young. Now he is on religion. Kick him out!

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