Judge booted for flipping coin to decide

[mikesilvia]

Unbelievable!

A judge who ordered a woman to drop her pants and decided a custody dispute by flipping a coin was removed from the bench by the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday. The decision against Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge James Michael Shull of Gate City was unanimous.

"Unless our citizens can trust that judges will fairly resolve the disputes brought before our courts, and treat all litigants with dignity, our courts will lose the public's respect and confidence upon which our legal system depends," Justice Barbara Milano Keenan wrote.

According to the court, Shull admitted tossing a coin to determine which parent would have visitation with a child on Christmas. Shull said he was trying to encourage the parents to decide the issue themselves but later acknowledged that he was wrong.

The pants-dropping incidents, the court said, "were even more egregious."

The court said they occurred when a woman was seeking a protective order against a partner who she said had stabbed her in the leg. Shull knew the woman had a history of mental problems and insisted on seeing the wound, the court said.

Full story here.

[K.Pop]

I am sure in siome way the media is Eagerating what the judge actually did. unless there is a video of him saying "DROP TROW" then i think this was overheatded. I may be wrong if so thats one wack judge...My judge was straight foward when I was in my bad times. I was either cuffed or sent home.

[mikesilvia]

He actually admitted to flipping the coin to decide.

According to the court, Shull admitted tossing a coin to determine which parent would have visitation with a child on Christmas. Shull said he was trying to encourage the parents to decide the issue themselves but later acknowledged that he was wrong.

[11chaos]

Often the best laid plans go awry. Obvisously(sp?) the judge was not thinking we are living in a PC era.