SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR THE JUDGESHIP

Dear readers:

As he talked with reporter Pat Sullivan and me, District Judge Michael Haley
was clearly upset. He was telling us how the court, over which he presides
as chief judge, is handling the mess it's in because of a fellow jurist's
stupidity.

Haley, his face anguished and hands slightly trembling, said Judge Thomas
Gilbert was spotted at a Detroit rock concert puffing on a joint. As he
detailed the story it was difficult at times to tell whether sadness,
embarrassment or anger was his predominant emotion.

He was certainly sad because of what Gilbert had done to himself and his
family. At the same time embarrassed and angered - the latter well
controlled - because of what Gilbert had done to the 86th District Court.

I don't know Haley well. I've only been in his company a couple of times,
including this awkward meeting. He seems like a straight shooter. And while
my news instincts drove me deeper into the story, I felt a certain sympathy
for the messenger.

Here is Haley, fronting for the court and handling damage control, while the
admitted law breaker who put him in this position is holed up waiting for
the furor to pass.

Frankly, I was amazed that Haley didn't tell us that Gilbert was stepping
down from the bench. Good grief, I thought to myself, Gilbert broke the law,
but he's taking a "voluntary leave" to have a comfy chat with a counselor.

I wondered how this weed-puffing judge can run off to a feel-good counseling
session and saunter back a few days later, wrap himself in his robe and sit
in judgment over others. I guess we'll have to see, after his head clears of
the rock music and funny smoke, whether he takes the right road.

Still, as I listened to Haley describe the situation and outline possible
outcomes, I was impressed with his forthright approach to his court's
crisis.

I thought about other judicial messes I've seen and how they were handled.

- A county judge in Ohio who was such a drunk they practically used the
"Jaws of Life" to pry him from the bench;

- A Macomb County district judge who fought tooth and nail to keep her job
after it was learned she was sleeping with an attorney who then killed his
wife and to whom she had been funneling legal work through her court;

- An Oakland County judge, himself no stranger to the bottle, who
"distinguished" himself a number of times, including pulling the hair of a
female gate attendant during a Detroit Metro Airport scuffle.

In these cases and others (some worse) the judicial community for the most
part was silent, even as embarrassment mounted. There was no shame.

I have no doubt Haley, as he groped for ways to handle his court's black
mark, was advised to lie low until some pesky reporter pushed and shoved his
or her way into the story. Then and only then would a half-baked response be
in order.

It's to Haley's credit that he chose to deal openly with the issue. It
certainly runs counter to the norm for fessing up to judicial wrongdoing.

Has the District Court weathered the storm Gilbert caused? Not yet. There
are more questions to be answered.

But at this stage, Michael Haley's up-front approach is refreshing and may
set a new standard.

Sincerely,

Bill Thomas

Editor