MetaChat - A look inside New York's small-town "Justice Courts."

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

25 September 2006

A look inside New York's small-town "Justice Courts." →[More:]

Nearly three-quarters of the judges are not lawyers, and many — truck drivers, sewer workers or laborers — have scant grasp of the most basic legal principles. Some never got through high school, and at least one went no further than grade school.

But serious things happen in these little rooms all over New York State. People have been sent to jail without a guilty plea or a trial, or tossed from their homes without a proper proceeding. In violation of the law, defendants have been refused lawyers, or sentenced to weeks in jail because they cannot pay a fine.

post by: mudpuppie at: 12:26 | 4 comments

Oh dear god.

posted by orthogonality 25 September | 13:18

FPP this.

posted by orthogonality 25 September | 16:42

Um, I did.

Unless you mean that other site. In which case, no thanks. You're welcome to, though.

posted by mudpuppie 25 September | 16:47

Frightening.

posted by redvixen 25 September | 18:39

← Ask MeCha: Life as a buddhist vacuum cleaner. || Vegas Pix, Day 1 →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN