[Vision2020] Fw: [Spam] HALT Announces Top Judicial Disability Web Sites: The HALT eJOURNALApril 23, 2007

Mon Apr 23 13:25:35 PDT 2007

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From: HALT--An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform ejournal at halt.org
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:21:19 -0700
To: lfalen at turbonet.com
Subject: [Spam] HALT Announces Top Judicial Disability Web Sites: The HALT eJOURNALApril 23, 2007

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An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform

April 23, 2007
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The HALT eJournal
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Dear Roger,
Welcome to HALT's eJournal, a bimonthly newsletter featuring updates on our recent
activities, nationwide legal news and helpful information for legal consumers.
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HALT Announces Top Judicial Disability Web Sites

When a judge abuses her authority on the bench, legal consumers rely on judicial
disability systems to investigate the misconduct and impose sanctions. As research
for HALT's upcoming Judicial Accountability Report Card recently uncovered, public
access to information about these systems and the judicial complaint process is surprisingly
limited.

"In an era in which more and more Americans obtain resources online, we're alarmed
that so many judicial disability systems are still stuck in the Dark Ages without
Web sites," stated HALT Senior Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder. "Even those that do host
sites typically provide shamefully scant information."

Half a dozen states, however, offer Web sites that serve as valuable tools for filing
a complaint against an unethical judge and understanding the judicial disability
process. Web sites for judicial conduct commissions in six states-Indiana, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin-stand at the top of the heap.

Taking top honors in HALT's national survey, the Web site hosted by Indiana's Judicial
Qualifications Commission [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.5nexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.in.gov%2Fjudiciary%2Fjud-qual%2F]
provides judicial disciplinary opinions dating back to 1986 (including cases that
led to private reprimands), a downloadable complaint form, explicit assurances that
complainants may speak publicly about their complaints and the disciplinary process,
a detailed explanation of the process, and examples of complaints that would lead
to dismissal, private reprimand, public censure and removal.

Refreshingly, Pennsylvania's Judicial Conduct Board  [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.4nexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.judicialconductboardofpa.org%2F]provides
well-organized online information in an unusually consumer-friendly tone. The Board's
Web site, which assures the public that they have a right to expect the highest standard
of ethics from judges, features a FAQ page that addresses everything from the kinds
of allegations that the Board will consider to the complainant's role in disability
proceedings.

Texas' Commission on Judicial Conduct  [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.aoexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scjc.state.tx.us%2F]offers
one of the nation's most sophisticated Web sites and includes a section dedicated
to the state's growing Spanish-speaking population. In addition to providing bi-lingual
information about the discipline process, the site offers a downloadable complaint
form in Spanish.

Unlike the state's ineffective lawyer discipline counterpart, Utah's judicial discipline
Web site  [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.boexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fjcc.utah.gov%2Fdocuments%2FFlowchart%2520Full.doc]provides
a goldmine of useful information. While online resources in other states characteristically
lack clear explanations of the disciplinary process, the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission
site offers a color-coded, plain language flow chart guiding consumers from the preliminary
screening stage through the Utah Supreme Court's sanction recommendation phase.
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.coexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.state.wv.us%2Fwvsca%2FJIC%2Fcover.htm]
The Judicial Investigation Commission of West Virginia [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.coexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.state.wv.us%2Fwvsca%2FJIC%2Fcover.htm]
 is unique in that it provides a comprehensive synopsis of advisory opinions dating
back 25 years and divides them by topics, such as mistreatment of litigants in the
courtroom and misconduct stemming from financial conflicts of interest. This extensive
database allows the public to review the Commission's ruling in different kinds of
misconduct cases.

While most judicial disability bodies conceal data, Wisconsin's Judicial Commission
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ummwy5bab.0.doexb4bab.jozwjwn6.2412&ts=S0238&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wicourts.gov%2Fabout%2Fcommittees%2Fjudicialcommission%2Fcumulativetables.htm]
includes detailed case disposition data on its Web site, which allows the public
to hold the system accountable for its rate of discipline.

In the next eJournal, we will reveal the Dirty Half-Dozen of the nation's worst judicial
disability Web sites - stay tuned.
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HALT Urges N.J. to Strengthen Lawyer Fraud Compensation

New Jersey's Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection is responsible for compensating
legal consumers for money stolen or misappropriated by a dishonest attorney.

Unfortunately, the Fund will only consider for payment claims arising from an attorney's
dishonest conduct "provided that...the attorney has been suspended, disbarred or
placed in disability inactive status, has resigned with prejudice or has pleaded
guilty to, or been convicted of embezzlement or misappropriation of money" (New Jersey
Rules of Court 1:28-3).  Yet in 2005, only 1.5 percent of all complaints of misconduct
to New Jersey's attorney discipline system resulted in the attorney being removed
from the practice of law for any period of time.

HALT is urging the Lawyer's Fund for Client Protection to adopt a standard for considering
compensation claims similar to Pennsylvania, which declares that "imposition of discipline...shall
not be a prequisite for favorable action with respect to a claim" (Pennsylvania Rules
of Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 521). HALT also points to Maryland's leadership,
which requires "as a condition precedent to the payment of any claim...that final
action be taken on the [disciplinary] grievance" but doesn't mandate that a particular
disciplinary outcome is required for a favorable compensation decision (Regulations
of the Client Protection Fund of the Bar of Maryland, Section C).

"The function of client protection is best served by providing every victim of a
dishonest attorney the full opportunity to seek restitution. New Jersey should ensure
that no defrauded legal consumer is barred outright from receiving much-needed compensation,"
stated HALT Senior Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder.
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Tenants' Rights: What You Should Know

By Terri Rudy and Rachel Decker

You may think signing a lease is all there is to renting an apartment. But there's
much more to the landlord-tenant relationship. Do you know what your legal rights
are if you find your landlord in your apartment when you return home early one day,
if your landlord refuses to return your security deposit, or if the dishwasher breaks
and floods the apartment?

Your rights as a tenant include:

* The right not to be discriminated against. It is illegal for a landlord to discriminate
against you on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or disability.
If you're discriminated against, file a complaint with the state or federal agency
that hears such cases.
* The right to a lawful lease. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions
of your lease before you sign it. If any clauses are unclear, unreasonable or unlawful,
discuss them with your landlord and make sure the lease is changed to reflect your
new understanding. If you need additional help, consult a professional.
* The right to decent, safe and sanitary housing conditions. If your landlord repeatedly
fails to provide safe and clean housing, you can call your local housing authority,
try to mediate the dispute or sue in small claims courts.
* The right to privacy. In most states, landlords have to give notice 24 hours ahead
of time before they enter the property, except for emergencies.
* The right to have your security deposit returned. This is provided you keep the
rental unit in good condition; other than "ordinary wear and tear," your landlord
may charge you for things like large holes in the wall, cigarette burns or excessive
water damage. It's a good idea to inspect the apartment beforehand with your landlord
and jointly sign a move-in inspection sheet so you're not unfairly charged when you
move out.

To learn more, read HALT's free Everyday Law Series guide "Tenants Rights" at www.halt.org,
or write to us for a free copy at HALT, 1612 K St., NW, Ste. 510, Washington, DC
20006.
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From: HALT--An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform <ejournal at halt.org>
Subject: [Spam] HALT Announces Top Judicial Disability Web Sites: The HALT
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