Here cums the judge?

I am about to blog about a crazy story. I swear I don't even know where to begin.

Let's see now: You have a black circuit judge in Alabama who was elected to office in an "overwhelmingly white" and "increasingly republican" county. The man was popular and by all accounts on the political and judicial fast track. The democratic party was even pushing him to be the first black federal judge from the great state of Alabama for crying out loud.

Well my man George Wallace can stop turning in his grave, because right about now things ain't looking too good for the Honorable Herman Thomas. Seems my man Herman might have some issues. -And let me say this right now for for the record: as someone who likes to rock an occasional bow tie from time to time, I think it's sad that my man Herman, if this proves true, might have done irreparable damage to the image of the bow tie in the courtroom.

"..his career collapsed under allegations that he brought inmates to his office and spanked them with a paddle. Later, an indictment accused him of sexually abusing male inmates in exchange for leniency. The trial on charges of sodomy, kidnapping, sex abuse, extortion, assault and ethics violations is set to start today."

Your Honor, I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. And I know that you are innocent until proven guilty, but...... I mean who could make up something like this? Spanked the inmates with a "paddle"? Oh Lawd!

Field, you stop it this minute. Don't you see it's just another plot by the white man to bring another brother down? I mean come on field, it's Alabama. Even the NAACP is getting involved and coming to the brother's defense. They know a racist plot when they see one.

Hmmm, I don't know about that, especially when I read reports like this:

"Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson said authorities began looking at Thomas after he changed a jail sentence in 2006 for his cousin, former Mobile County school commissioner David Thomas, even though the case was being handled by another judge. Other cases that Thomas had taken over from other judges without their approval soon surfaced, she said.

Some inmates in those cases described being checked out of the jail for meetings with Thomas in his car or in his private office in the county courthouse. First, there were reports of inmates having to pull down their underwear for spankings with a wooden paddle. Then came allegations of oral and anal sex, according to court records."

"Allegations of oral and anal sex"? OK, I am trying to keep in mind that they are, after all, just "allegations". But if true, I would sure be disappointed. Here is a brother who was on the fast track and who might have just thrown it all away because he couldn't control his sexual urges. (Or at least I think his urges were sexual.)

"Defense attorney Robert “Cowboy Bob” Clark calls the accusers “lying felons” who are trying to wreck the career of “a prestigious member of the bar for over 20 years.” The NAACP has defended Thomas and claims race is behind his prosecution."

We will see NAACP. We will see.

Story here.

Pic courtesy of ledger-inquirer.com