| ► La Prensa - 08/29/01 - Ohio Supreme Court fails to muzzle judicial watchdog |
 |
 |
|
La Prensa - Toledo, Ohio
Ohio Supreme Court Fails to Muzzle Judicial Watchdog
David Palmer Finally Scores One Big Victory
By Alan Abrams
La Prensa Senior Reporter - Aug. 29, 2001
It is going to take a lot more than just hauling judicial watchdog David Palmer before an Ohio Supreme Court panel to derail his campaign to expose dishonest judges.
The former Maumee resident who now lives in Powell, Ohio is the man who created the popular web site "The Committee to Expose Dishonest and Incompetent Lawyers and Judges." In recent months, Palmer has filed more than 50 felony theft complaints against nine judges. And now, the Ohio Supreme Court's Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline has accused Palmer of impersonating a lawyer.
That's because Palmer offers free legal advice on his Internet site, www.amoralethics.com.
Also raising the ire of the disciplinary counsel is the allegation that Palmer misrepresents himself as a lawyer by placing the initials J.D., a common abbreviation for a law degree, on his stationery.
Palmer challenged that allegation by introducing defense witnesses at the five-hour August 15th hearing. One witness was a man who told the hearing, "I thought (J.D.) meant "Just Dave."
And an Ottawa County lawyer testified she uses the abbreviation Esq. (for Esquire) and not J.D. on her business cards. She told the hearing, "It's a parody. This is someone who has some criticism of our profession."
In a humor-laced filing to the board on August 16, a copy of which was obtained by La Prensa, Palmer attached a Juris Doctor degree he has recently been awarded by Working Wounded University. The degree limits Palmer's practice to the Land of Oz. And, Palmer stated, "I have recently applied for a Juris Doctor certificate allowing me to expand my practice to include Atlantis."
Added Palmer, "Disciplinary Counsel and the Ohio Supreme Court have no legal authority that respondent is aware of that would confer upon them jurisdiction to control the practice of law in The Land of Oz or Atlantis."
Palmer also submitted a diploma awarding him a degree in Remedial Legal Ethics, "which enables me to teach remedial legal ethics courses."
In addition, Palmer also submitted a Certified Psychic Degree from the Progressive Universal Life Church.
Wrote Palmer, "Disciplinary Counsel claimed its psychic abilities allowed it to determine the state of mind of unknown persons who may have viewed the letters J.D. on respondents web site. Disciplinary Counsel claims these unknown persons concluded that the J.D. meant respondent was an attorney."
Palmer continued, "To rebut Disciplinary Counsel's Psychic abilities to determine the state of mind of unknown persons of an unknown gender, respondents' use of his psychic abilities and use of tarot cards shows that J.D. was interpreted by some as follows:" Here Palmer listed the following terms:
 Junkyard Dog Jive Diver Juvenile Delinquent Jovial Dave Jury Duty Jim Dandy Job Description John Doe Judgment Day Justice DeniedPalmer's filing also included copies of his diplomas as a "Doctor of Philosophy in Exorcisms" and as a "Certified Tarot Advisor." He promised to "exercise good judgment" before utilizing his Doctorate in Exorcisms.
At the hearing, Palmer said he often advises people to consult a lawyer, bar association or even a judge if they encounter problems in a case. He does not charge or accept any fee for the recommendations he dispenses.
Palmer was buoyed by the presence of about a dozen supporters, according to a Columbus Dispatch report. One man called him "Saint Palmer."
The commissioners will prepare a report to the Ohio Supreme Court, which has the option of conducting its own hearing. The board chairman said it would take about seven weeks to prepare transcripts and accept briefs.
The following week, Palmer won a major victory in the Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus.
As first reported locally in La Prensa, Palmer had filed a complaint with the Ohio Ethics Commission accusing former Sylvania mayor James Seney of failure to properly disclose rental income he received from retired visiting judge Stephen Yarbrough of Lucas County.
Seney, who worked for the state Department of Development in the late 1990s, rented an apartment in Columbus. Yarbrough had claimed Seney billed him 162 times at $55 or $60 for room rent. Palmer maintained as late as August 17 in a fax to the assistant Franklin County Prosecutor that these checks were never negotiated by Seney. The receipts, which Palmer alleges were manufactured by Yarbrough, were then submitted by Yarbrough to Franklin County for payment. La Prensa has obtained a copy of the fax.
Seney, now executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, downplayed the allegation in an interview with La Prensa, saying the matter would be quickly resolved by the Ohio Ethics Commission.
Following an investigation by the Ethics Commission, the Columbus city prosecutor's office was asked to file three charges against Seney for failing to file a complete financial disclosure statement as required by law. Seney pleaded no contest to the three charges August 23. He was fined $300 and court costs but two of the three fines were suspended and Seney paid $140 before walking.
How lucky was Seney? He had faced a maximum of $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail if convicted of each of the misdemeanors.
|