According to FBI statistics, Philadelphia has the highest rate of gun-related homicides of all the large cities in the United States. Previous posts on this blog have cited the Philadelphia Police Department's commitment to making the streets safer by getting guns off of the streets and by arresting people with illegal guns. Some have criticized the police for being too aggressive and for being too intrusive. Quite a small price to pay, if you ask me, for safe streets. Unfortunately, it appears that Philadelphia's "Gun Court" judge, Paula Patrick, would disagree with me. She has thrown out dozens of apparently good gun cases, and therefore, set free dozens of criminals.
In Philadelphia, Gun Court is designed to handle cases that involve defendants charged with crimes, where the most serious charge is a gun charge. The idea is to streamline the process, and provide education and rehabilitation to those offenders who are amiable, but to also "provide direct and immediate response to...recidivists". (see gun court fact sheet)
In this case, Judge Paula Patrick, a former civil and criminal defense attorney, appears to be furthering her own personal agenda. In turn, the streets of the City of Brotherly Love will surely get more dangerous. Sam Stretton, the West Chester Attorney who represents Judge Patrick, has represented other judges. This representation includes when other judges are accused of violating the law or the Code of Judicial Conduct. (click here to see this case, where Stretton represented another Philadelphia judge who was accused of and found to have used his position as judge to issue illegal orders for friends)
If you are religious, pray for Philadelphia. With judges like this, the city needs help.
"Judge Paula Patrick, a former civil and criminal defense attorney"... says it all
ReplyDeleteShe is a horrible judge and she is very unfair.
ReplyDelete