color: white; Some Work Things Are Optional. The Global Legal News You Need, When You Need It. A Zoom hearing for her domestic violence case went viral. In 2011, lawmakers created the seven-memberpay commission and tasked it with periodically setting judges' pay in New York. (St. Joseph County District Judge Jeffrey Middleton), Your Honor, me and Mary both dont want the no-contact (order). .widget-row.value-only.white { [1] On November 4, 2014, Middleton was re-elected unopposed for another six-year term commencing on January 1, 2015, and expiring on December 31, 2020. Conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. "Just like school board meetings or city council sessions, court hearings on YouTube keep the public informed and educated. He should have been a stand-up comedian and I say that because hes emceed a lot of things hes very well spoken, and makes things happy and fun, Allen said. Judge Jeffrey Middleton announced in a live-stream on May 17 that the live-streamed court hearings were to come to a swift end, as he claims was suggested by the Michigan Supreme Court. font-weight: bold; background-color: grey; width: 100%;
. background-color: #f9f9f9; Judges at the Supreme Court level the statetrial-level court were being paid $136,700. This is an issue we didnt have when we had live court, Middleton said as the hearing unraveled. Coby Harris back in court! St. Joseph County District Judge Jeffrey Middleton ordered the defendant to walk outside and show him the number on the home from which he was Zooming. That payment plan also includes the prior laundry list of unpaid fees and costs. She thought authorities were on to the fact that Harris was back in her apartment, she said. Use a descriptive title. Support me on Patreon for exclusive weekly videoshttps://www.patreon.com/vanbalionchannelSubscribe to my main channelVan the Manhttps://youtube.com/channel/U.
Though they weren't present Tuesday, judicial secretary Lori Rumsey and now-retired friend of the. .clearfix { According to court records, Saxton was set to appear before the judge on a charge of possessing drug paraphernalia. That's when Davis interrupted the defense lawyer and told the court: Your honor, I have reason to believe that the defendant is in the same apartment as the complaining witness right now and Im extremely scared for her safety.". color: white; (St. Joseph County District Judge Jeffrey Middleton). Because of Covid-19 restrictions, a March 2 hearing on the case, in front of St. Joseph County District Court Judge Jeffrey Middleton, was virtual, via Zoom and YouTube. Middleton, who has gained attention as a visual curiosity after not having his hair cut in more than 18 months, quickly expressed his gratitude to the five-member county commission. font-weight: bold; The entire hearing was streamed on the judge's courtroom YouTube channel. Judge Middleton pointed to the viral videos as one of the reasons for the end of the broadcasts, with fears of the streams being used for entertainment instead of the intended educational purposes. He was arraigned Tuesday and pleaded guilty. .widget-row { 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Radical NY senators get a well-deserved slapdown from acting top judge, Jussie Smollett appeals conviction for hate crime hoax, argues bias, AG aims gun at experts head to dismiss Murdaugh defense theory, Alec Baldwin not allowed to drink alcohol, own gun after not guilty plea in Rust shooting. Jeffrey C. Middleton is an attorney serving Centreville, MI. "No one asked them 'What do you think about being broadcasted on YouTube and having '1.5 million hits,' so that's the downside of this," explained Judge Middleton. Judge Jeffrey Middleton called out the defendant for his unpaid fines, and yeah, he noted the whole appearing-in-court-from-the-driver's-seat-while-having-a-suspended-license thing: Sponsored. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. The prosecutor and Harris' attorney could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday. Whether lawmakers and Cuomo will act remains to be seen. save. The state Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation issued a report Friday that failed to raise judges' salariesfor the next four years, leaving state Supreme Court justices with a pay rate of $210,900. save. So new charges have been filed against him. I want some confirmation that she is safe before we continue.. She said she told prosecutors she did not want to participate, knowing that she would be on display. The fact that shes looking off to the side and hes moving around, I want some confirmation that she is safe before we continue.. Family had tipped them off, she said, and then police were knocking outside as she tried to answer questions. Harris was arrested after officers found him attending the Zoom hearing at the home of the woman, from whom he had been ordered to stay away. Next, two decades of service were noted. The victim could not be reached for comment Thursday. Do not sell my information. What's in a name? The video even has her home address they made me say it twice.. As of April 1, 2019, state Supreme Court justices were paid the same amount as U.S. District Court judges $210,900 while county court judges earn 95% of that and city court judges outside New York city earn 90%. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Harris, who was charged as a habitual offender, faces an enhanced sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Legal Knowledge Management To Drive Dealmaking, Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. Ms. IE 11 is not supported. More than seven minutes into the hearing, as Harris' attorney objected to a question by prosecutor Deborah Davis, the woman appeared to look off camera to her right. The county responded with annual salary data for 4,906 total employees. The report came as Gov. Counties | Top billing went to district court judge Jeff Middleton, who has been with the county 40 years. We may need to adjourn this, your honor, Davis said. font-weight: bold; St. Joseph District Judge Jeffrey Middleton, a rising YouTube star, posted courtroom video Tuesday of the mans anal gaffe, Law and Crime reported. It was a sharp-eyed prosecutor, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Davis, who first noticed that something appeared off. The assistant prosecutor, Deborah Davis, also had more details about the incident involving the defendant: [Davis] revealed that in addition to driving while suspended, the car he was driving, a 2000 Ford Taurus, was hauling four adults, three children and one child, an infant, wasnt secured. I ask that that be dropped, Harris said. STURGIS, Mich. A Michigan court defendant finds himself in even more trouble after he got caught attending a Zoom hearing from his alleged victims home last week. At the time, New York judges had seen their pay frozen for the prior 12 years. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. .infobox { clear: both; Judge Jeffrey Middleton called out the defendant for his unpaid fines, and yeah, he noted the whole appearing-in-court-from-the-drivers-seat-while-having-a-suspended-license thing: The one Im struggling with is the driving suspended. Though he initially pleaded not guilty but later changed it when the judge said the normal fine for the count is $200. Absent that, judges won't get a raise until 2024 at the earliest. A proposal would have frozen judges' salaries in 2020 before granting them cost-of-living increases in 2021, 2022 and 2023. However, someday I will be telling my grandkids about Zoom court and its shenanigans. Allen offered a few words about his godson, Lillywhite. The fact that Lindseys hearing was posted online led to a stunning awareness-raising moment in America, said Casey Gwinn, president of Alliance for Hope International, a nonprofit organization that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. 1:07. Harris faces a charge of assault with the intent to create great bodily harm, a felony that carries up to 10 years in prison. Youre digging your hole you hit bottom and youre continuing to dig.. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. Ballotpedia features 395,557 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. If you have $10 million, you cant bond out. [1] Judges Jeffrey C. Middleton (Chief Judge) Robert K. Pattison Paul Stutesman See also St. Joseph County, Michigan Courts in Michigan Judicial selection in Michigan External links Michigan Courts, "St. Joseph County" document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. The live-streams began in May 2020, after courts turned to using Zoom during the pandemic. Harris was arrested after officers found him attending the hearing at the home of his alleged assault victim, from whom he had been ordered to stay away. The judge then asked Harris to walk outside with his cellphone and show the address. The charge against him was then called an alleged violation of a city ordinance, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine in the court. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Middleton ran for re-election to the 3B District Court.General: He was unopposed in the general election on November 4, 2014. She said she had looked through the comments on news articles: A lot of people are saying, well, its her fault., It was just really frustrating to me that everyone was watching, she said. But he also thinks that Lindseys privacy was violated, in a case that is not confidential but that in pre-pandemic times would never have been broadcast to the world. Cuomo appointee Robert Megna,former state budget director, also voted against the proposal. 0 comments. Knocking on the door.. How to vote | Lawmakers are set to reconvene in Albany next month. Michigan Court of Appeals This story has been shared 105,331 times. Allen worked at the sheriffs department when Lillywhite was hired in 1995. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. There wouldnt be 800,000 views for this particular survivor on this particular day, Gwinn said. } A cigarette jutted from his lips as he addressed the court. In addition, the prosecutors probably also going to charge you with obstruction of justice.. Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? Fast, informative and written just for locals. Judge Jeffrey Middleton, prosecutor Deborah Davis. float: right; The hearing included appearances by Harris and the victim, presumably from separate locations. This pay is 61 percent higher than average and 63 percent higher than median salary in County Of St Joseph. background-color: white; Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? The judge, police and prosecutors sat silent for several moments, waiting to see what was going on at Lindseys apartment. And, yeah, Judge Middleton was NOT pleased: "Your name's . Many people commenting online are supportive. I dont know why I. By Thursday, the video was removed from the YouTube channel where Middleton streams official proceedings. Middleton chalked up the episode to another oddity of life in a pandemic. Recipients were Equalization Department appraiser Jan Hart, finance department accounting clerk Virginia Trattles, corrections sergeant James Hasbrouck, and corrections officers Thomas Harington and Jeremy Tyler. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. } } Lindsey has started an online fundraiser that she says will help her move out of the area and get good therapy. "I'm sorry.". 124 North Main Street Box 130 Three Rivers, MI 49093. .widget-row.Republican { The attorney finished by asking for some sort of jail time for the individual. .widget-row.Democratic { Lets review: there was the lawyer caught shoveling food in his face while on camera, another responding to a judge with sneaky bitch, the classichaving sex on camera during a hearing, or the disturbing sharing your racist views with the world when you thought you were no longer recording, and its been a lot. Also consider other hobbies. Take the cigarette out of your mouth," Middleton said. The proceedings came to a halt minutes in as the prosecutor said that something was amiss. What's your name," Middleton asked. Middleton said that even if both Harris and Lindsey want the bond conditions lifted, prosecutors do not. Take your phone with you so that we know youre OK, Davis told her. The hearing included. I asked that it be dropped. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } Take your phone with you, so that I know youre okay, Davis said, eventually burying her face in her hand as Harris protested that me and Mary both dont want the no-contact. The judge declared the situation unprecedented. The entire hearing was streamed on the judge's courtroom YouTube channel. He also faces obstruction of justice charges in connection with the virtual court incident, the judge said. School districts | The name mishap was the second time the court's live-stream had gone viral, after a March hearing showed an assault suspect in the same room as the victim and witness, which is explicitly not allowed. margin-bottom: 1px; When Judge Middleton noted that the fine for this offence is normally $200, Saxton appeared to change his mind, admitting to being in possession of the syringe and other paraphernalia. In that case, Judge Middleton immediately revoked bail, and had the defendant taken into custody. But the committee's convoluted voting rules require a proposal to have support from members appointed by Cuomo, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and legislative leaders in order to pass. "This is entirely unacceptable, and we will be urging the Legislature and the governor in the coming weeks to amend the law to authorize the commission to revisit the issue of judicial salaries next year," Marks said. 6. Posted by 2 years ago. This is an issue we didnt have when we were having live court, the judge said. "Unfortunately, challenging fiscal times require thoughtful approaches to multi-year commitments when spending scarce tax dollars," the three members wrote. This article was published more than1 year ago. "The decision threatens a return to the dysfunctional and demoralizing periods when New Yorks judges were denied cost of living adjustments for long, multi-year stretches," Marks said in a statement. "You've hit bottom and you're continuing to dig.". } Lillywhite said he has seen a number of faces on the county commission, and he appreciates its involvement in working for the betterment of the sheriffs department. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? font-weight: bold; He initially pleaded not guilty but later admitted to having a syringe and other paraphernalia when Middleton noted that the normal fine for the offense is $200 which he ended up having to pay. This Tool Can Help. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. "A footnote in history, sure. A police officer participating in the Zoom hearing could be seen talking on the phone to someone, though his microphone was muted and the conversation could not be heard. Now people are blaming her, she says. Harris is charged with assault, which is usually punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Perhaps youve heard of the latest Zoom court debacle. Meg Garvin, executive director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute, emphasized that open courts language in state and federal constitutions does not mean hearings must be live-streamed, especially when sensitive personal information is at stake. vertical-align: top; [2], Middleton received his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and his J.D. I have reason to believe that the defendant is in the same apartment as the complaining witness right now, and I am extremely scared for her safety. The woman confirmed that she and her then-boyfriend had argued and that the police had arrived but offered few details about why. Zoom court hearing ends with defendant in handcuffs (NCD). Jeffrey C. Middleton is a district court judge for the 3B District Court in Michigan. Ballotpedia does not currently cover this office or maintain this page. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. } That's why the Supreme Court intends for this increased transparency to continue.". Im sorry I lied to you. Lindsey said she had never told Harris she called authorities Feb. 9. Allen said Middleton has always had and continues to have a strong memory. 3B District Court went viral just last week, May 11, after a defendant entered the live-streamed court hearing under the name "Buttf*****3000." (Video: Judge Jeffrey Middleton/YouTube). Speaking in front of a nondescript white wall, Harris did not move. Lindsey, where are you right now? Middleton asked. The prosecutor dropped her head into her hand. The decision ensures judges will join state lawmakers in seeing their pay remain stagnant in 2020 after the courts invalidateda planned raise for legislators earlier this year. }, Jeffrey C. Middleton is a district court judge for the 3B District Court in Michigan. margin-bottom: 0; AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Its just so much more complicated than that., A virtual court hearing in Michigan was postponed after the defendant was found at the same home as the alleged victim while the hearing took place on March 2. Its the first time I ever had anybody sitting in the next room, potentially intimidating a witness, the judge said later. During the digital Zoom hearing on Tuesday, she said the assault happened after the two, who were dating at the time, had a short argument. } This story has been shared 119,476 times. When Buttfker 3000 realized Middleton was addressing him, he identified himself as Nathaniel Saxton. Lindsey, would you go answer the door? Middleton asked. The zoom call then captured police arresting the suspect during the hearing. J: "A fine of $600." Chants of "Jail-em Jeffrey!" can be heard. Mans Zoom court hearing ends with handcuffs after hes found attending from victims home Court officials, attorneys and defendant Coby Harris, bottom right, watch during a March 2, 2021, court hearing as Harris' alleged assault victim, bottom left, answers her door for police. Use a descriptive title, See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2014 County board chairman Dennis Allen introduced Middleton. A community to discuss everything related to Judge Jeffrey Middleton's YouTube . The case exploded into public view after a Zoom hearing March 2 that began with routine questions. Coby Harris, of Sturgis, is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in her home, and when both of them appeared in the hearing remotely, Assistant District Attorney Deborah Davis knew something wasn't right. display: inline-block; } Im at like 2 percent right now; Im hooked up to this wall charger right here., The police are at Miss Lindseys apartment right now, Davis told the virtual courtroom. The alleged victim in the. Davis told Middleton she believed Harris and Lindsey were in the same location. Apply today! LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. font-size: .9em; The hearing was rescheduled for March 16. Cities | Um, Im at a house, she responded. .widget-row.Green { Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. And to Mary Lindsey, the complainant, the hearing from earlier this month was a new trauma, as her struggle to answer questions about alleged violence from her then-boyfriend became headlines.