Party flap raises judicial ethics issues
By Mark Leberfinger and Phil Ray, mleberfinger@altoonamirror.com, pray@altoonamirror.comThe appearance of judges, lawyers and Blair County police officers at a prominent defense attorney's golf tournament - at which a fight broke out - raises the question of whether the boundaries have been blurred or crossed, rendering an impartial criminal justice system less impartial.
Blair County Judge Hiram A. Carpenter teaches ethics to Blair County employees and spent six years on the Supreme Court's Judicial Ethics Committee.
He is the first to admit that judicial ethics is a tough issue.
When it comes to judges and others in the court system mixing it up at a golf outing, Carpenter said, he suspects opinions would vary depending on which county the judges and lawyers reside in.
Judges and lawyers in bigger counties may say it's no big deal, but in smaller counties where people know each other on a more casual basis, it could be, he said.
Judges must follow a code of judicial conduct and while those canons don't address whether it's ethical to attend a party with lawyers and police officers, the code does state, ''An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. Judges should participate in establishing, maintaining and enforcing, and should themselves observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved.''
Carpenter said ethics is something that judges must consider in their social activities, business relationships and general activities.
If there is any question about the ethics of attending an event, he said, a judge can request advice from the member of the judicial Ethics Committee in his area.
The ethics of being part of the justice system requires some sacrifice, Carpenter said.
''It doesn't mean you can go to a party or you can't go to a party. You should be thoughtful about it,'' he said Wednesday.
Defense attorney Dickey held a golf outing July 16 at the Scotch Valley Country club, followed by a dinner at his Hickory Hill home.
Dickey said it was attended by 100 to 115 people including two Cambria County judges, members of the Blair County District Attorney's office, and police officers from local departments. No Blair County judges attended, with at least two saying they didn't even know about the event.
A fight broke out, with one of the officers attending the affair being struck by a beer bottle, resulting in his transfer to the hospital for emergency treatment.
A criminology professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania doesn't believe representatives of different areas of the court system attending a party makes the system seem less impartial.
''I know of no ethical statement that prevents judges, law enforcement and attorneys from gathering together,'' Dr. Paul McCauley said Wednesday. ''This is not fraternizing with the enemy. You're all in the same business. I guess I'm somewhat naive, but as a general statement, I trust them.''
Dickey sponsored his tournament for the last three years. He charged a $100 fee that covered the round of golf at Scotch Valley Country Club in Hollidaysburg and an after-tournament party at his Frankstown Township home.
According to a model code of conduct formulated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, officers shall not engage in any conduct or activities on- or off-duty that reflect discredit on the officers, tend to bring the law enforcement agency into disrepute, or impair the agency's efficient and effective operation.
''Attorneys will fight like crazy against each other in court and then go out together to have a beer. They have a job to do,'' McCauley said.
Public perception may be quite different from the reality of a situation, McCauley said.
''It's very much like the fear of crime. Often people think there is crime in their neighborhood when in fact, there is no crime,'' he said.
Blair County Judge Elizabeth Doyle Wednesday said judges are prohibited from attending political events or engaging in fundraising but otherwise, she said, it is up to each judge to decide what is proper, or what has the appearance of impropriety.
Judges don't step into a vacuum, she said.
They have friends, and other relationships when they enter office.
In some cases, this means they must recuse themselves from cases in which they have an interest or know the participants, she said.
Mirror Staff Writer Mark Leberfinger is at 946-7462. Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
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mama64
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07-26-08 10:18 AM
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hey everybody, we are allowed to make comments on July 25 article now. this is all crazy. it really doesnt matter to me that they had a party, or who was there, as long as those people who broke the law are prosecuted. If it were you or I, we would pay for what we did wrong. Just because they are cops and lawyers and judges, that doesnt mean they are above the law. Just as the saying goes, You Play, You Pay. Its no different for them.
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victortorage
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07-26-08 4:56 AM
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The trivial information that we are obtaining here is our podunk version of what goes on across the board within our Federal government. Put your tinfoil hats on and check out the REAL conspiracies that are soon to become fact. The RealID card. The coming financial collapse. Possible Bush 3rd term...forcibly. The North American Union. Just look at the Whitehouse's website under "executive orders" for a scary read. Seriously, Sheeple! Turn the comments back on, you dolts! We can't afford to have lives, and this is our only true form of entertainment. Jeeez...
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FATNECK64
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07-25-08 7:28 PM
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Sorry, I am back, the Altoona Mirror reporters can ramble on forever, but us wannabes only get a 1,000 charcters... anyway... Peteswife stated one day the truth will be told.. she is right there...since Fulare's fairy adventure with information from vermin.. he has been advised of reality, and chose to do nothing...the Apocolypse is coming
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FATNECK64
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07-25-08 7:20 PM
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Well said FactFairy, Peteswife doesnt have to many facts correct, I don't remember ever seeing Heller blasting Fulare, it was always the other way around. What corruption.. It's Fulare that took the nonsense as real, without checking it out and called the Attorney General's office. Peteswife says Fulare wants people to be accountable, from what I have read, Heller and Logan Township have been up front with this issue. The State Police are handling this matter, not Logan Township and Heller has said pending the outcome there could be a internal investigation. If you look at the facts, it has been handle correctly, the State Police responded because Tom Dickey's home is in Frankstown Twp.; they will do the investigation as needed; no one is covering anything up. Names are not released until charges are filed.
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factfairy
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07-25-08 6:50 PM
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In response to Peteswife.. I'm not quite sure why you felt it necessary to criticize Chief Heller and the Logan Township Government when this has nothing to do with Supervisor Fulare? Isn't he part of the LT Government? So Jerry can thank his loyal supporters for opening this can of worms. Supervisors Falure's comment of how disturbing a party like that would take place??? Well apparently Jerry has had memory loss of a party at his home where the police were called for a disturbance and alcohol was a factor. Honest Abe should consider the quote "people that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!" This is FACT not FICTION
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Bacchus
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07-25-08 2:24 PM
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I would hope so.
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 1:35 PM
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Bacchus come on. We can't handle the truth, can we?
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 1:33 PM
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The greater issue is WHY did members of the criminal justice system run for the hills instead of staying put and assuring the TRUE facts were reported and true JUSTICE was done. It shows you what they REALLY stand for. The poor crime corporal from Bedford PSP will spend weeks if not months tracking each one down for a statement.
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 1:29 PM
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Because we are loading up the Mirror files with our inane claptrap.:-)
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Bacchus
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07-25-08 11:53 AM
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Why are we not able to comment on today's article?
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OooohNoooo
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07-25-08 11:47 AM
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Good point, Esoteric, Good point!
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KnowsLawAndObeysThem
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07-25-08 11:08 AM
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While you are making light of the mystery person "Jamal", you have inadvertently confirmed a more serious matter with Deanna Paul. You said that she caused the fight, and the felony assault on a policeman took place with a beer bottle then there is no way for anyone to say that there wasn't alcohol there. If you had said the assailant used a stick, rock or baseball bat, then Ms Paul & friends could lie to cover up for her. As for the guessing about her ARD, the mirror reports that she was arrested in December, but she might not have been sentenced until perhaps MARCH if she was taking her time pondering how she wanted to plead. Her probabtion should have been 6 months. In the original reports of her arrest, Richard Consiglio kept shouting that there would be no favoritism or special treatment. We shall see. Did she do 6 months like anyone else would have ? Who is her probation officer ?
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esoteric
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07-25-08 10:50 AM
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Ah...but if you never find out all the names, you can make fun of *everybody*....LOL
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OooohNoooo
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07-25-08 10:48 AM
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Esoteric.. We are gouing to make fun of people when we see them in public... what else?
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esoteric
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07-25-08 10:22 AM
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First, I want to thank all of you who have been posting on this topic....it's been wildly entertaining. Now I think I know why my mother was such a fan of soap operas. For all of you clamoring for names and specific information, you now have some. My question is this: What exactly are you going to do now that you know more? What specific actions are you now enabled to take since you have received the information you so desparately desired? I have no stake in either side...it's just curious to me what you think you are empowered to do with the information you want.
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JohnDoe123
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07-25-08 10:11 AM
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Just to add one more thing... I've heard of cases where it's been months after a fight or crime occured before charges were filed. Im sure the police also want to make sure nobody is covering up for anyone, and the stories are matching up. It's gonna take awhile to locate 115 people and conduct interviews.
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JohnDoe123
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07-25-08 10:09 AM
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The charges will come when the investigation is through. You have to figure, there were about 115 people at that party, and the police are going to want to talk to everyone and compare stories before the charges are filed. This will make sure that they don't file charges on the wrong person before getting all of the facts, causing a bigger scandal.
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TheOneAndOnlySurge
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07-25-08 9:31 AM
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So if what everyone is saying is true, where are the assault charges? It would seem there is more to the story or we would see Jamal being processed.
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JohnDoe123
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07-25-08 9:05 AM
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Finally..someone's on the right track. For the record, Jamel is NOT a cliet/drug dealer/ CI. He's just some guy who apparently Mr. Dickey didnt really even know! A C.I.? You people are RIDICULOUS!! Too much Law and Order for some of your. Thats how rumors get started. Seriously, those of you saying these ludacris things like that, can sit here thinking you've uncovered some big corrupt conspiracy..but your the ones who couldn't be further from the truth.
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 8:29 AM
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And there will come a day, And youth will pass away, What will they say about me. When the end comes I know, They'll say just a gigolo, Life goes on without me
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 8:25 AM
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Yes it does but Jamel was puttin the moves on the ladies and Mr Lindsey was coming to the rescue of Ms. Paul when he was clunked. Need to get out to RUKiddings hangouts for the 'rest of the story.'
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mama64
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07-25-08 8:22 AM
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it states in the second article that it was a male cop who got hit in the head with a beer bottle, not a female cop.
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 8:21 AM
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Good thing this happened at the party. A nine iron can be devastating.
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Chuxspringer
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07-25-08 8:19 AM
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Maybe Jamels attempts at jugglin 3-4 women and tryin for more is getting to him. 'Oh, I'm just a gigolo and everywhere I go, people seem to want to taunt me.' Pehaps Matt should have let Tommie Boy handle it. When Jamel swung he would have been high and over the intended target.
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RUKidding
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07-25-08 7:15 AM
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Turns out.. Jamal is actually Jamel Malid. a member at Scotch Valley who played in the golf outing and followed the heard to Dickeys party. From what was said, he was an unwelcome guest at the party and was making crude comments to some of the female guests. Lindsey asked him to knock it off and a scuffle ensued. Lindsey was promptly smacked in the head with a beer bottle. Its amazing that you can find out more info about stuff like this by hanging out at bars than you can by keeping an eye on the media... sad...really sad...
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