The attempted extortion and threats being imposed by the state's judiciary, in particular the state's Chief Judge Judith Kaye, on the state Legislature and Governor's office for a pay raise continues.

When The Journal News, a newspaper serving Westchester County, wrote an editorial on April 15 entitled "Justice Suffers Most When New York Sticks It To Judges On Raises", supporting the raises, one taxpayer and insider angrily responded. http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704150354

Dear Sirs:

Your editorial on judicial raises couldn't have been more wrong. Judge Kaye whines that they "only" get $136,000 a year conveniently "forgetting" to mention the value of their enormous benefits and all the other money they get for special assignments and committee memberships: their total compensation is closer to $250,000.

I'm the ex-wife of a law secretary and I've been behind the scenes in the Westchester courts for over 20 years. These babies barely work, their law secretaries do almost everything. Judges work part-time (from about 9:30 to 4:30 with at least an hour for lunch). They don't read any of the motion papers submitted to them (the law secretaries do that), most don't write their opinions and decisions (again, the law secretaries), and some don't even sign their own names to the orders! (yup, law secretaries again).

Don't believe me? Nicky Colabella had prostrate surgery in July 2002. The very day he was under the knife for this surgery, there's a signed order from him filed in the county clerk's office. Now how could Nick have signed a court order while he was under anesthesia? (Oops). Answer - one of his staff forged his signature, probably Ray Powers (Nick's Law secretary).

Nick's the judge who's had his mistress on the taxpayer's payroll for 17 years posing as his secretary (Nancy is named as the other woman in Nick's divorce papers - double oops).

There are judges in White Plains who run their real estate businesses from chambers, judges who regularly fall asleep on the bench, and even a judge who called the black employees the "n word" to their faces (in front of people). Of all judges, I got pulled for his jury the last time I had jury duty. I told Fran (the commissioner of jurors) I'd rather go to jail than acknowledge that individual as a judge by sitting on his jury. I was relieved of jury duty completely rather than have me say that "on the record". All Fran and the judge involved was concerned about was whether I had mentioned this to anyone else. I didn't then. I most definitely will the next time I pull jury duty!

And haven't you read the Justice Department's decision stating that NYS has the most corrupt judicial election process? What does that mean for our courts? We have judges on the bench who are beholden to the political Tammany Hall bosses who put them there. I have an alleged kickback list that my ex kept on our home computer of the court assignments he and his judge allegedly gave to the head of the local Republican party, the ex-administrative judge, Al Pirro's law partner, and even to Nick Spano while he was a state senator and responsible for making laws governing the courts!

Lastly, haven't you been following the Garson case in Brooklyn this month? That's the judge who is charged with taking kickbacks on custody cases. The lawyers and the judge were tape-recorded - the language they use in "closed chambers" while discussing the mother and her children is appalling. And I've heard this kind of language in my own home over the 20 years I entertained these egotisical idiots. They have absolutely zero empathy for any of the litigants before them. Their attitude is "they must have done something to deserve this". Unfortunately, anyone can be taken to court in this country whether they deserve it or not - all it takes is a hateful, vindictive individual. Ask any doctor, contractor, or abused spouse.

So you actually want to give these judges a raise? Are you kidding? Fortunately, there are many groups in this state who are well aware of the horrors in our judicial system.

Catherine Wilson
Thornwood, NY 10594 4-19-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette