Difference between revisions of "Cobb County - Judicial Misconduct"

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==Robert D. Leonard II - Chief Superior Court Judge of Cobb County==
==Robert D. Leonard II - Chief Superior Court Judge of Cobb County==
[[File:Leonard_Pic.jpg|right|300px]]
[[File:Leonard_Pic.jpg|right|300px]]
Judge Leonard was appointed to the bench in 2010 and presently serves as the Chief Judge for the Cobb Judicial Circuit. He has been re-elected three times without opposition. <ref>[https://www.cobbcounty.org/courts/superior-court/judges/judge-robert-d-leonard ''Cobb County Superior Court - Honorable Robert D. Leonard II, Chief Judge'', cobbcounty.org.]</ref>
Judge Robert D. Leonard II was appointed to the bench in 2010 by former Georgia Governor [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Perdue Sonny Purdue] and presently serves as the Chief Judge for the Cobb Judicial Circuit. He has been re-elected three times without opposition. <ref>[https://www.cobbcounty.org/courts/superior-court/judges/judge-robert-d-leonard ''Cobb County Superior Court - Honorable Robert D. Leonard II, Chief Judge'', cobbcounty.org.]</ref>
 
===For Cobb or Cronies?===
For those familiar with the multiple close friendships and family connections amongst those in power of the Cobb County court system, there may be a clearer picture of why and how Cobb’s Superior Court judges make their decisions. The relevant applicable laws and the facts of the cases tell some of the story, but perhaps there is more to consider.
 
[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobb_County,_Georgia Cobb County] located in the State of Georgia had a population of 760,141 as of 2019 making it Georgia’s third most populous county. Despite Cobb County’s large population, the close connections and relationships amongst those in power at the courthouse is worth noting.


===Leading Cobb's Notorious "Pay-to-Play" Way===
===Leading Cobb's Notorious "Pay-to-Play" Way===
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====''Myton v. Starks'' - Cobb County Superior Court, Case No. 21-1-03662====
====''Myton v. Starks'' - Cobb County Superior Court, Case No. 21-1-03662====
Judge Leonard's execution of the Pay-to-Play method has not waivered as of August 2021. In Cobb County Superior Court, [http://thewikilaw.org/wiki/images/9/9b/SUCV-20210098999.pdf Case No. 21-1-03662], Judge Leonard appointed Tyler J. Browning of [https://www.browningsmith.com/ Browning & Smith LLC], as a Guardian Ad Litem over a custody matter. Based on public records as of January 2021, Browning & Smith is the highest donating law firm to Judge Leonard's re-election campaign since 2014, which is presently known as Friends of Judge Leonard, donating a present total of not less than $3,600.00 to date.<ref>[https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=9130&FilerID=C2012002602&Type=candidate ''Georgia Government Transparency And Campaign Finance Commission'' C2012002602, media.ethics.ga.gov]</ref> Unless the owners of Browning & Smith have a habit of making poor arbitrary business decisions, its donations to Cobb Superior Court judges are undoubtedly investments by the firm from which history has shown a return.
Judge Leonard's execution of the Pay-to-Play method has not wavered as of August 2021. In Cobb County Superior Court, [http://thewikilaw.org/wiki/images/9/9b/SUCV-20210098999.pdf Case No. 21-1-03662], Judge Leonard appointed Tyler J. Browning of [https://www.browningsmith.com/ Browning & Smith LLC], as a Guardian Ad Litem over a custody matter. Based on public records as of January 2021, Browning & Smith is the highest donating law firm to Judge Leonard's re-election campaign since 2014, which is presently known as Friends of Judge Leonard, donating a present total of not less than $3,600.00 to date.<ref>[https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=9130&FilerID=C2012002602&Type=candidate ''Georgia Government Transparency And Campaign Finance Commission'' C2012002602, media.ethics.ga.gov]</ref> Unless the owners of Browning & Smith have a habit of making poor arbitrary business decisions, its donations to Cobb Superior Court judges are undoubtedly investments by the firm from which history has shown a return.
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===A (Not So) Voluntary Recusal in Waffle House Sex Tape Case===
===A (Not So) Voluntary Recusal in Waffle House Sex Tape Case===
In an article written by [https://www.ajc.com/staff/bill-rankin/ Bill Rankin] for [https://www.ajc.com The Atlanta Journal-Constitution], Judge Robert Leonard recused himself from the case after making biased rulings in favor of his wife's attorney, Hylton Depree.
In an article written by [https://www.ajc.com/staff/bill-rankin/ Bill Rankin] for [https://www.ajc.com The Atlanta Journal-Constitution], Judge Robert Leonard recused himself from the case after making biased rulings in favor of his wife's attorney.


<blockquote>One alleged conflict was that an ethics complaint had been filed against Leonard before the state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission. JQC Commissioner Richard Hyde works as an investigator for Rogers’ legal team in the sex tape case, the motion said, creating a question about whether Leonard would favor Rogers’ side in the litigation to curry favor with Hyde.
<blockquote>One alleged conflict was that an ethics complaint had been filed against Leonard before the state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission. JQC Commissioner Richard Hyde works as an investigator for Rogers’ legal team in the sex tape case, the motion said, creating a question about whether Leonard would favor Rogers’ side in the litigation to curry favor with Hyde.
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