Title 55 charge puts young woman to tears
A THP officer gets back into his car after making a scene outside the Hixson Panera bread store, charging a young woman with “texting while driving,” enforcing a transportation statute against a young woman who legally admits she is involved in transportation (though as matter of fact, she’s not). (Photo David Tulis) The arrest of […]
66% inmates in jail unconvicted as system ignores ‘guilty mind’ rule for prosecutions
Accountable to voters, Jim Hammond, center, opens a re-election bid for sheriff of Hamilton County as supporters gather at an event Oct. 19 downtown. Next to him is his wife, Jeannie, mother of their three children. (Photo David Tulis) The refusal of the judicial industrial complex in Hamilton County to uphold Tennessee’s guilty intention (“premeditation”) law […]
2 words from judges Poole, Statom could solve jail crowding crisis today
Judge Lila Statom deals with defendant Taylor Satterfield in sessions court in a case that was sent to the grand jury. (Photo Dan Kennedy Wrcbtv.com) Criminalization of non-criminal behavior and examples of bad behavior and misjudgement is pushing Hamilton County into a jail funding and jail crowding crisis, the pressure of which is intensifying. The […]
Ignored Miranda rule spoils city’s ‘community policing’ goals, but offers secret sauce
Mayor Andy Berke oversees the executive branch of Chattanooga government; the police department led by David Roddy is an executive branch agency, accountable to Mr. Berke in executing city (and state) policy. Chattanooga city police chief David Roddy, meeting with reporters in the MSM conference room at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, expresses a desire […]
Necessity of police reform as cop killings, public anger escalate
Chattanooga police chief Fred Fletcher, left, and his boss, Mayor Andy Berke. Policing is a function of municipal corporation’s executive branch, with little oversight from the city’s legislative branch, the city council. (Photo abcnews-go.com) The mayor Andy Berke administration released results of a survey that will help its chief of police selection committee focus on […]
Thousands of defendants overlook right of appeal for ‘trial de novo’
Basil Marceaux stands in the Hamilton County, Tenn., court building as he challenges the use of police by municipal corporations despite high court rulings stating city authority is civil. (Photo David Tulis) By David Tulis / Noogradio 1240 AM 92.7 FM The court system so intimidates Americans that thousands of people in Hamilton County and […]
Lone defendant says ‘no,’ puts system in tizzy
Hamilton County’s new justice building and old jail, background, are seen by a grand jury as needing more efficiency, to better move along minor defendants. But the constitution makes it troubling and difficult for accusations to be quickly processed, and courts and the legal profession have found ways around its requirements. A petty criminal defendant […]
Marceaux cases would stymie ‘police state’ enforcement in all TN cities
Basil Marceaux of Soddy-Daisy is raising explosive questions about Tennessee courts and the state’s use of inferior civil courts to process criminal complaints. (Photo David Tulis) Former gubernatorial candidate and free-range motorist Basil Marceaux will appear before a Hamilton County circuit court to argue in one of a series of criminal cases whose defense is […]
Cop arresting Bell holds peace as vilely abused in Bales panhandle case
Antonio Bell as seen from a police cruiser camera. (Photo Chattanooga police department) Arrest data for Antonio Bell, charged with five counts in an encounter with David Bales, a sessions judge. Police video supports the arrest of Antonio Bell in the retaliation case involving Judge David Bales, and undermines the favorable impression of Mr. Bell […]
State plea bargains man into jail after police encounter over judge at store
Antonio Bell, center, appears on the pages of “Just Busted” in Chattanooga. (Photo David Tulis) Antonio Bell says he is in jail until March 17 under a plea agreement that has him admitting to two misdemeanor counts of retaliation against a judge or officer. But the statute under which he was charged — and to […]