| ► Judge Jerry Tillett of Manteo, NC; Judge Roy Bean Wannabee |
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Judge Jerry Tillett of Manteo, NC; Judge Roy Bean Wannabee 
FYI: Judge Roy Bean was a saloon-keeper and Justice of the Peace in Val Verde, County, Texas, who called himself “The Law West of the Pecos.” Judge Bean was also affectionately referred to as “The Hanging Judge.”
The North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission found Judge Tillett guilty of the following misconduct.
Several days after Tillett’s son was arrested by Kill Devil Hills Police, a meeting was arranged with the assistance of Tillet’s “good friend” and former law partner, and fellow Mason, Kill Devil Hills Town Attorney Dan Merrill.
Merrill asked that Police Chief Gary Britt, Deputy Chief Dana Harris, Mayor Ray Sturza, and Town Manager Debbie Diaz attend what Merrill described to them as a “Venting session” for Judge Tillett and told them they needed to listen to what he had to say.
During the meeting, Judge Tillett expressed complaints about his son’s detention by the police; expressed complaints about the conduct of Police Chief Britt. All of the participants at the meeting described Tillett’s demeanor as “stern,” “aggressive,” “agitated,” and “angry.”
Judge Roy Bean then went on to say, that “the law is what the Superior Court says it is in North Carolina>
When Chief Britt challenged Judge Tillett’s authority, which Roy Bean laughingly found to be disrespectful, Roy responded by having the authority to remove officials from public office. The meeting concluded with Roy telling the participants that they needed to address his complaints or that he “would take care of it for them.”
As a consequence of his misconduct the enablers for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Judicial Commission punished Judge Tillett by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
As we speak (ca. March 2013), Judge Willett remains sitting as a District judge in Manteo, North Carolina.
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