A JUDGE'S DISGRACE

Former Jefferson Parish Judge Ronald Bodenheimer made a disgraceful exit
from public life Monday when he stood before a federal judge in New Orleans
and pleaded guilty to three crimes, two of which involve him abusing his
authority as judge.

Not only did Mr. Bodenheimer admit to scheming to fix a custody case in
favor of restaurateur Al Copeland, but he also admitted to reducing and
splitting bonds to maximize profit for bondsman Louis Marcotte III. Mr.
Bodenheimer, owner of Venetian Isles Marina in eastern New Orleans, also
says he conspired to plant drugs on a man who had criticized the marina.

Mr. Bodenheimer brought shame upon the judiciary with his crimes, and it's
wholly appropriate that he be punished severely. His admission of guilt is
likely to bring him 31/2 years in a federal penitentiary. In addition to
the incarceration, the chief disciplinary counsel for the Louisiana
Attorney Disciplinary Board said he plans to file charges of misconduct
against Mr. Bodenheimer, asking the Supreme Court to permanently disbar him.

If Mr. Bodenheimer were a blight on an otherwise spotless Jefferson Parish
judicial system, local residents would probably be breathing a sigh of
relief that he is off the bench. But federal prosecutors think he will
reveal even more corruption at the Jefferson Parish courthouse. Federal
officials say his 42-month sentence is conditioned on his promise to
testify against others.

Federal officials have been eyeing goings-on at the courthouse for almost
four years now. Between August 2001 and April 2002, the FBI tapped more
than 20 phones belonging to then-Judge Bodenheimer, Judge Alan Green and
Mr. Marcotte.

Neither Judge Green nor Mr. Marcotte has been indicted on any charges.
However, Mr. Marcotte's attorney went on the offensive Monday, calling Mr.
Bodenheimer a liar for implicating his client in the bond-fixing scam.

Attorney Buddy Lemann admits his client bought the judge dinners and drinks
but denies a quid pro quo arrangement between the two.

The chummy relationship definitely raises suspicions, though. For example,
Mr. Lemann says Mr. Marcotte sent a construction crew to the judge's house.
He insists, though, that everything was legitimate because the judge paid
for the work.

If Judge Bodenheimer needed work done on his house, why wouldn't he call a
contractor? What need would there be for a bail bondsman?

Similarly, what need would there be for Al Copeland, who was battling his
ex-wife for custody in Judge Bodenheimer's court, to meet with the judge to
discuss the case?

Mr. Copeland's attorney, Jack Martzell, confirms that the two met to
discuss the case but insists that the conversation was not improper. Even
so, Mr. Bodenheimer signed a plea agreement that says he favored Mr.
Copeland in the custody dispute with the hope that he could win a contract
to provide seafood to Mr. Copeland's restaurants.

Of all the crimes he admits to, Mr. Bodenheimer's conspiracy to plant drugs
on a critic of his marina may be the most despicable. He conspired to send
a man to prison for a crime he didn't commit. That he was at the same time
sitting in judgment of others is truly a frightening thought.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says he expects Mr. Bodenheimer to help federal
officials convict others involved in courthouse corruption. It's in the
ex-judge's best interest to provide all the help he can.

But no matter how much help he gives, he should understand that his
reputation is destroyed and that he has no one to blame but himself.