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November 21, 2003
Compare and Contrast
Compare and contrast Judge Griffen, who frequently lectures on ethics and the higher standard of civility that attorneys/judges should follow with this local judge.
A judge accused of infractions from the bench that included threatening to shoot a defendant resigned his position Wednesday.
Huntsville District Judge W.Q. Hall's resignation averts a hearing the that was set for Thursday. He was also accused of having an improper meeting with witnesses in the same case....Hall was accused of threatening Jack Gates of Rogers, who runs a septic-tank cleaning company and was charged with improperly dumping sewage in a meadow in Madison County.
The state panel that disciplines judges sanctioned Hall twice in 1999. Once was for refusing to step aside in a case against a man who had filed a complaint against him and once for conduct unbecoming a judge.
In the second situation, the commission found that the judge reviewed bank records relevant to a small claim case without the defendant present, and yelled and swore in court before finding in favor of the bank.
If I remember correctly, Judge Hall didn't exactly threaten the defendent....he told the defendent something like "If you dumped shit on my property, I'da shot you." Actually pretty mild for him from what I've heard.
Judge Hall and his antics are something of a local legend....so much that you can mention "W.Q" and everyone immediately knows to whom you're referring.
He's one of the reasons that area is known as "Booger Holler."
As in the Boogie Man will get ya if you don't watch out.
Posted by Rita at November 21, 2003 08:01 AM