Difference between revisions of "Karma prevails and Recusal Motion ensues"
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Karma prevails and Recusal Motion ensues (view source)
Revision as of 13:07, 25 December 2022
, 13:07, 25 December 2022no edit summary
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A Fulton County judge entered an order in a case last Wednesday, December 21, carelessly releasing all money held in the Registry of the Court to a plaintiff despite ownership of over $40,000 of those funds is still left to be determined by the jury. | A Fulton County judge entered an order in a case last Wednesday, December 21, carelessly releasing all money held in the Registry of the Court to a plaintiff despite ownership of over $40,000 of those funds is still left to be determined by the jury.<ref>Motion to Vacate Order Releasing Funds</ref> | ||
Superior Court [https://www.fultoncourt.org/judge/judge-melynee-leftridge Judge Melynee Leftridge] doubled down on her lawless ruling by ordering that the defendant-tenant be evicted immediately and further required that the defendant pay an additional $30,000 into the Registry by December 31, 2022. | Superior Court [https://www.fultoncourt.org/judge/judge-melynee-leftridge Judge Melynee Leftridge] doubled down on her lawless ruling by ordering that the defendant-tenant be evicted immediately and further required that the defendant pay an additional $30,000 into the Registry by December 31, 2022.<ref>Order Releasing Funds</ref> | ||
The plaintiff, Paramount Properties, receiving what appeared to be an early Christmas present by the court is represented by Hall Booth Smith, an Atlanta law firm with at least one attorney on Judge Leftridge's donor list. | The plaintiff, Paramount Properties, receiving what appeared to be an early Christmas present by the court is represented by Hall Booth Smith, an Atlanta law firm with at least one attorney on Judge Leftridge's donor list.<ref>Transparency Commission Report</ref> | ||
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The plaintiff-landlord (client of Hall Booth Smith) requested from the court a release of all funds held in the Registry at around 5:20 PM on December 20, 2022; and the judge entered the order releasing the funds without a hearing at 11:03 AM the very next morning (on December 21) with over $40,000 of those funds still in dispute for a jury to decide ownership of. “I’ve seen my fair share of malfeasance from the bench in multiple [Georgia] counties so, while this situation isn’t overly surprising, it’s still disheartening and puts me in a bad position having to ask the judge to recuse herself,” McMaster continued. “It would essentially amount to malpractice on my part if I don’t motion to recuse the judge at this point.” | The plaintiff-landlord (client of Hall Booth Smith) requested from the court a release of all funds held in the Registry at around 5:20 PM on December 20, 2022;<ref>Motion For Writ of Possession</ref> and the judge entered the order releasing the funds without a hearing at 11:03 AM the very next morning (on December 21)<ref>Order Granting Motion</ref> with over $40,000 of those funds still in dispute for a jury to decide ownership of. “I’ve seen my fair share of malfeasance from the bench in multiple [Georgia] counties so, while this situation isn’t overly surprising, it’s still disheartening and puts me in a bad position having to ask the judge to recuse herself,” McMaster continued. “It would essentially amount to malpractice on my part if I don’t motion to recuse the judge at this point.” | ||
The defendant, Derrick Jackson (represented by McMaster) had already deposited over $190,000 into the Court’s Registry before November of this year, making it mathematically impossible for the plaintiff to be entitled to all money already in the Registry and for Jackson to owe an additional $30,000 in rent through December 31. | The defendant, Derrick Jackson (represented by McMaster) had already deposited over $190,000 into the Court’s Registry before November of this year, making it mathematically impossible for the plaintiff to be entitled to all money already in the Registry and for Jackson to owe an additional $30,000 in rent through December 31.<ref>Motion to Vacate</ref> | ||
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Karma did come to the rescue, at least for the moment, as the party that benefited from the judge’s blitz-order was unable to withdraw the funds from the Registry as of December 22 due to a clerical error in the judge’s order, and the judge’s staff had already gone on vacation not intending to return until January 3, 2023. Judge Leftridge’s chambers were thus unavailable for comment. | Karma did come to the rescue, at least for the moment, as the party that benefited from the judge’s blitz-order was unable to withdraw the funds from the Registry as of December 22 due to a clerical error in the judge’s order, and the judge’s staff had already gone on vacation not intending to return until January 3, 2023.<ref>Out of the Office Notification</ref> Judge Leftridge’s chambers were thus unavailable for comment. | ||
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