I had an interesting experience today in a PA district court

Do NOT admit you were over the speed limit. As soon as you do you will lose. (from experience)

this is an interesting comment. thinking about it now in that light, it did seem as though the cops controlled the court, not the judge.

The "fill-in" officer was their acting as a witness, to something he had not witnessed? Any witness can be challenged on gounds of their lack of personel knowledge.

Attorney here, 2 quick stories:

1. Federal Court is the WORST. My client's case was the ONLY case on the docket for the day. The judge, NO JOKE, has over 10 assistants and their were FOUR attorneys representing the Gov't. I spoke about my client's defense to the allegations and was told if I pursue them, I would be sanctioned and he would report me to the state Bar. Keep in mind, the case was just commenced and there was no evidence ever exchanged. My client asked me to cut a deal the next day.

2. Criminal Court, my client had his license stolen. The person who stole it ran up tickets all over Long Island. The Hamptons Court and Suffolk Court cleared him on proof. The Nassau Court ... here goes - We are at arraignment, my client, a white guy (clean cut and in a suit) and myself are waiting to be called. The Judge a white woman is presiding and letting ILLEGAL after ILLEGAL (without any attorney, not even public aid) leave on ROR (basically means without paying any bail) on worse charges than my client. Finally, we are called. The judge starts immediately yelling at him why he didn't take care of his tickets. I calmly explain that his license was stolen and I offer the judge a copy of the Police Report indicating a stolen license. The Judge REFUSES to even handle the document and orders the bailiff to return it to me. I again offer it to her and offer her the judgment from the other counties. She refuses and orders my client arrested. She sets bail at $500.00. I dig into her and she threatens me with arrest. Needless to say, after we bailed him out and fought it at trial, my client won. Here's the kicker, they returned his bail money but kept $50.00 for a processing fee. Judges are the MOST corrupt.

Yep shitty. But also know if you can't get over that slowing down to 40mph is also legal. I been in that situation driving a semi. No way to get over in rush hour i slow down to 30mph to be sure

That's a good suggestion, but what if you're the crime victim who is being bullied and intimidated by cops?

Yes, it happens all the time in the UK in certain crimes. Because the police just cannot be bothered to investigate, so they bully victims to make them go away.

I honestly do not know what the police are there for nowadays - it seems they are just there to keep control of crime victims and their righteous frustration at the total lack of justice and decent police practice. They lost control of criminals a long time ago.

Is that you, Brief?

Did you happen to spot a Kangaroo nearby?

My favorite ticket was om squealing of tires. Cop was kind to arrest his grandmother. He lied in court said I was drag raceing at stop lite. But I was asking directions. Then took off.

I don't drink anymore also. One DUi and done. That's just a money maker. One beer and your done now you get DUI. Maybe complete sober driving is best thing

OP, I can relate to everything you're saying, but I have to ask:

Prior to your experience, were you really this naive? If someone had told you their horror story of what they observed in court, would you believe them? Would you care?

It seems like no one comprehends this unless it's happened to them. So for those who don't get what the OP just learned, be glad you haven't yet had to comprehend it.

This is commonplace and nothing new.

The case should have been dismissed anyway----because the cop did not show up.

And why give him a ticket in the first place if he did not want his time wasted?

Just find out where they live and visit them at home....wifey, kids...dog...

This.

Two wrongs do not make a right.



That is a DUH!!!!! answer but true nevertheless.

You obviously have no comprehension of what op clearly described.

Which is?

PA court judges are elected by popular vote. A lot of bad behavior goes on from corruption to only making decisions that will look good to get re-elected.

My recent court experience, had a ticket for turning onto what I thought was a service road. The penmanship was so poor that they couldn't tell me what the "code" was for the ticket when I called to see how much it was. The Lady I spoke with thought it was for illegally crossing near railroad tracks. Of which there are none in the area where I was cited.

So I showed up for "court". No judge, no officer, just the assistant DA literally with a desk behind a door and a line of fellow offenders. I had never had a ticket so had no clue what to do. When I reach my turn I am then informed that my $300 offense was going to cost $500 because now I was being charged for court costs. And it didn't matter that you couldn't read the ticket that the cops now use tis same code as a "blanket offense" to write tickets. So basically they can write you a ticket and just make up whatever shit they want under this code.

And then the DA informed me if I went before a judge then I would have to pay even more court costs and face 30 days in jail if I pursued it and lost. Made me so mad! I told that smug bastard that I was going to sleep better at night knowing that rapists & drug dealers were loose on the street since he was going to be so busy prosecuting and keeping a dangerous Wife & Mother off the streets.

Needless to say, the experience made me understand why so many innocent people end up in jail with this stupid judicial system we have. That traffic court was nothing but a money maker for them. BTW, the "court costs" included them stamping 4 pieces of paper and spending about 3 minutes on the computer.

in IL half are elected the other half nominated, so they nominate the losers and cronies for the most part. was a decent fair one a while back but he retired

NO the case was dismissed because the accuser was not in court, they just said the other. You don't think they know the law, just because he doesn't, dont mean shit.

Stop THEIR breeding.

I surely don't see why their stupidity and corruption should in any way cause me to stop breeding. I should have more children and try to teach them properly, so they can do a better job in the next generation.

They normally reschedule in case the officer doesn't show up. I don't think they can do it repeatedly, but they reschedule at least once to make you or your attorney appear twice in court.

Simple wisdom here^

be the change you want to see.
If you fight them.....you become as them.....they win

You should see how it is with juries..
I was picked to be jury foreman for a case involving a dirtbag white kid who went to the hood looking to party and score some coke...

The seller, who is Black kept telling him to slow down as he was building up a lot of debt to him. The White kid was trying to hook up with a Black girl there and he kept buying coke for about 5 people to make himself look bad.

Well the morning comes...and the dealer wants his $200.
The White kid says "I'll just go home (to his White neighborhood) and come right back with the money.

Black guy says "you ain't goin nowhere!"

White kid calls dad and says he needs $200 or they will hurt him.

Dad brings money to neutral location and gives it to Black guy then all leave.

White kid's dad calls cops and says the Black guy threatened to kill his son (total bullshit)

Black guy is arrested and charged with selling dope, kidnapping, aggrravated battery because he supposedly threatened White kid with bat if he didn't pay up.

In court it was like a circus..Public defender was indifferent to his client and raised no objections throughout. Kids dad testifies that he felt like Black men were going to hurt him too. (I could have bitch slapped him for his really over dramatic portrayal, he even shed a tear out of fear for his dirtbag son...all very obviously coached.)

In the end, I really felt bad for the Black guy, I sensed he was being railroaded big time. But his attorney put up no defense for him. He merely raised a few points about how he was turning his life around...

We get into the jury room and all other jurors right away talk about how guilty Black guy is...

I said WTF are you talking about? The White kid went by choice, the Black guy tried to get him to stop, and the kid would not.

After 45 minutes everyone wanted to go home so they began talking to me like I was an asshole and how they needed to convince me.

In the end, we agreed to the selling dope and unlawful restraint charges. I absolutely refused to find guilty on agg. batt. and told them that. I said if you continue, we will be here all night. The others relented and that was dropped from the charges.

Black guy still got 10 years for the other charges.