Judge Capizzi speaks out of school, and Mat Heck stifles similar free speech

Judges have a special place in society. They issue opinions, but, they really aren’t allowed to have any of their own.

In fact, the idea of electing judges is kind of ludicrous if you think about it. They may be a D or an R, but it doesn’t appear on the ballot. They may talk about their experience and training, but can’t say how they’d rule once elected. In other states, judges are picked by their peers, because, frankly, most voters couldn’t tell a well written legal brief from a pathetic one.

And when it comes to Juvenile Court Judges- they have to take an extra step of never revealing the identity of those they preside over.

Judge Anthony Capizzi

Judge Anthony Capizzi

So, when Judge Anthony Capizzi talks about juveniles who are set to appear in his court, before he’s made a ruling, before they’ve had a trial, while they are “innocent until proven guilty” he’s overstepping his boundaries in a way that should have him removed from the bench. Read the following.

Montgomery County Juvenile Court Judge Anthony Capizzi has said the four 16-to 17-year-olds in the Huber Heights robbery will automatically be bound over to common pleas court if he finds probable cause. Moving the two 15-year-olds to adult court, however, involves more discretion, the judge said.

Guns a game-changer

In a wide-ranging interview with this news organization last week, Capizzi said he is worried about a “generation of drug users” whose children are adversely affected.

“I believe we’re beginning to see long-term mental limitations or restrictions,” he said. “We all know a child’s brain doesn’t mature until age 24-25. What were they thinking? They just don’t think about two hours from now.”

As president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Capizzi knows the latest juvenile crime data. There is a downward trend overall, “but the level of crime has shot up dramatically,” he said.

“Kids used to steal bicycles and break into garages. Now, they rob someone who has a cellphone and they have a weapon,” Capizzi said. “The fact that youth have weapons now changes the game.”

Although Plummer pointed a finger at juvenile court judges for being too lenient, Capizzi said some have accused him of being too tough, particularly when athletes are involved.

He said he was lit up by parents, coaches and administrators from a school he wouldn’t name after refusing to order the removal of a star player’s electronic ankle bracelet during the basketball playoffs.

“The bigger issue is they believe they can get away with whatever they want to do and they’re privileged,” Capizzi said.

Source: More youths join gangs, carry guns

But, when someone disagrees with Judge “Run his Mouth” Capizzi, all of a sudden, he’s entitled to special protection (article continuing)

Judges sometimes encounter more than just criticism. A 24-year-old man was arrested last week for allegedly threatening Capizzi after news surfaced that he was handling the Huber Heights armed robbery case.

“If I ever see him I’m beating the (expletive) outta him he better pray I don’t catch him downtown coming out of that building,” said a social media post that carried Capizzi’s photo.

Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck announced Friday that Devin Wilson, 24, of Dayton, was charged with making threats toward a juvenile court judge.

Last I checked, the first amendment still applies. Like it or not, what Devin Wilson says, and does are two different things. And, yes, while threatening an officer of the court has criminal charges attached, the statements he was reacting to weren’t official rulings by the judge- which should be dealt with in court, via appeal, but the off-book ramblings of a Judge who spoke when he shouldn’t have.

Think about it.

Or, consider how screwed up things have become, when the President of the United States now says that Democrats in Congress were treasonous by not clapping for him. The same standard would have had the republicans in congress lined up and executed for sitting on their hands while President Obama spoke. Treason is serious stuff, as are threatening to beat up a judge, but, when is someone going to beat up the judge for speaking outside of court?

 

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