Justice Roland A. Cole Named Chief Justice Of The Superior Court

BDN reports “Superior Court Justice Roland A. Cole has been named chief justice of the Superior Court by Leigh I. Saufley, chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Cole replaces the former chief justice, Thomas Humphrey, who was sworn in last week by Gov. Paul LePage as an associate justice on the state supreme court.

“I am delighted to announce that Justice Roland A. Cole has agreed to serve as chief justice of the Superior Court effective June 10, 2015,” Saufley said Tuesday in a press release. “We are very fortunate that a judge with his skills and experience is willing to take on the responsibilities of the chief justice of the Superior Court.”

Cole was appointed to the District Court bench in 1981 by Gov. Joseph E. Brennan, the press release said. He was appointed to the Superior Court bench in 1986 by Brennan. Read more HERE.

Cole will earn $126,000 a year in his new post, a raise of $5,000 over what he earned as an associate justice.

Related:

Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability
MEMBERS AND STAFF

The Committee is composed of seven members who serve for one nonrenewable six-year term. Two of the members are judges (from the Superior, District, or Probate Courts), two are lawyers,and three are members of the public (including the current chairperson). The judicial members of the Committee are appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court, and the lawyer and public members are appointed by the Court upon the recommendation of the Governor. The current Committee Members are:

• Dr. Anne E. Pooler, Chairperson, until February 3, 2021
• Dr. Jill Gordon, until October 7, 2017
• Jennifer Nichols Ferguson, Esq., until December 12, 2017
• District Court Judge Peter J. Goranites, until August 3, 2017
• Superior Court Justice Paul A. Fritzsche, until August 31, 2018
• Robert E. Crowley, Esq., until August 31, 2018
• Jon P. Van Hoogenstyn, until August 31, 2018

The Committee has four alternate members (one Superior Court Justice, one District Court Judge, one lawyer, and one public member) who attend Committee meetings and vote when a regular member is absent or is disqualified from participating in a particular matter. The current Alternate Members are:

Judicial:

• Superior Court Justice Roland A. Cole, until August 31, 2018
• District Court Judge Patricia G. Worth, until August 3, 2017

Lawyer Member:

• Charles W. Smith Jr., Esq., until August 31, 2018

Lay Member:

• Christine S. Gianopoulos, M.P.A., until February 3, 2021

Judicial Liaison:

• Associate Justice Ellen A. Gorman, Maine Supreme Judicial Court

In addition, the Committee currently employs a part-time Executive Secretary, who is a lawyer, and an Administrative Assistant. They are:

Cabanne Howard, Executive Secretary

Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability Roster (PDF)

The “fix is in”! When will the Governor “fix” this?

Who Is Judging The judges?

WGN Investigates – Chicago

A joint WGN Investigates and Medill Watchdog investigation asks the question: Who is judging Illinois’ judges? Read more, click here.

Who is judging Maine’s judges? Why judges! Members on the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability include Judges Paul Fritzsche, Robert E. Crowley, Roland Cole, Peter J. Goranites, Patricia G. Worth. Is this not a conflict of interest? Judge Thomas Humphrey previously sat on the committee. He is the current Chief Justice of the Superior Courts.

The Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability is a Personal appointment which does not require a public hearing or approval of the State Legislature. Governor LePage must remove these members from this committee.

 

Kennebunk – Zumba Prostitution Case Continues

PPH reports ” Accused john going to trial on Monday. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday morning in the trial of a former Kennebunk High School hockey coach accused of hiring Zumba instructor Alexis Wright for sex. He is the first of 68 people accused of engaging Wright for prostitution to take his case to trial since the scandal broke last year.

At least 58 others have pleaded guilty or pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge. The cases against the others are still pending.”

“The judge presiding over the trial, Superior Court Justice Roland Cole, delivered a blow to prosecutors — who had planned to call Wright as a witness — when he ruled last week that she could exercise her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent for most questions if she is called upon to testify.

That ruling could affect whether Kennebunk police pursue charges against 40 more people whose names appeared in meticulous records Wright kept of the one-woman brothel she ran from her Zumba studio and business office.”

“Kennebunk police said last week that they are awaiting word from the York County District Attorney’s Office before deciding whether to move forward with the investigation of those 40. The lead prosecutors in the case are bound by a court gag order from speaking with the media until after Hill’s trial has concluded.” Read more, click here.

Judge Cole’s “ruling could affect whether Kennebunk police pursue charges against 40 more people”?

Kennebunk (ME) Prostitution Case 2-14-13, click here.

Freedom of Access Act request, December 27, 2012

Second Freedom of Access Act request, January 20, 2013

On January 28, 2013 a response was received to my FOA request to Justina McGettigan, Deputy D.A. from D.A. Kathryn Slattery. D.A. Slattery provided the list of approximate 60 individuals charged. The request was for the remaining 150+ suspects charged.

FOIA – clarification, February 7, 2013

Why is it so difficult to get a response from the District Attorney’s Office to a FOA request? Why will the D.A. not uphold Maine statute and supply the list of the remaining 150+ suspects charged?

Related: Attorney Jens Peter Bergen – Zumba Client – Pled Guilty…And Silently Slips Away, click here.

Now Judge Cole’s “ruling could affect whether Kennebunk police pursue charges against 40 more people”?

Why were all other York County judges replaced on this case….yet Judge Cole gets to preside? He sat on the bench in York County for years! Perhaps some people forgot…..but I haven’t!

Why does the media report on this in the wee hours of the morning?

IS JUDGE EDWIN KELLY, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT AND FAMILY DIVISION IN N.H. OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT REDRESS?

The New Hampshire House of Representatives reconstituted a Redress of Grievances Committee. The need for judicial reform is long overdue. The rampant, out of control, corruption within our judicial system demands judicial accountability and New Hampshire is on the right track.  Aggrieved parties are not trying to “overturn valid orders”, but to negate invalid, unlawful, unjust travesties of justice occurring in the courts at the hands of corrupt judges. See Billy Miller (NH) travesty.  He was found “NOT GUILTY” after 11 months of administration of mind-altering drugs.  New Hampshire, like Maine, appoint judges and can remove them for judicial misconduct. The people of New Hampshire are fortunate to have State Representatives who are concerned about them, understand the Rule of Law and have not loss their common sense.

 Whereas in Maine, judges who sit on the bench, aid and abet corruption, sit on the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability. No one in the Executive or Legislative branch of government see a gross conflict of interest?

The Redress of Grievances Committee would not be a threat to anyone who wasn’t doing anything wrong! An honest person would welcome this Committee. People across this nation are watching!

The Nashua Telegraph reports ” Redress panel threatens autonomy of three branches, Guest Commentary by Edwin Kelly.”

Also view:

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE RECONSTITUTES A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES COMMITTEE

N.H. REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES PETITIONS PROCEDURE AND REQUEST FORM

CORRUPTION AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST PERMEATES WITHIN THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND DISABILITY

SENATE CONFIRMS RE-APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE CHRISTINE FOSTER

ARE GOVERNORS INCOMPETENT OR IS THERE A MOTIVE BEHIND THEIR MADNESS?

ARE THE COURTS “CRYING WOLF?”

CORRUPTION PERMEATES THE U.S. JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Lise from Maine posted the following comment on the NEW JERSEY…..CONNECTING THE DOTS link:

“There is corruption in all 50 states, now called territories of the United States – see MRS for the definition of “state.”

The “fake” courts at the federal and state levels have been corrupt for a very long time.

None of the so-called state judges in Maine have a Commission whereby the Commission clearing creates the “office.” An Oath of Office is ONLY a secondary process.

No commission = no office = no oath “of” office.

Some of us have known this for some time while others are just catching on.

Thank you!”

I am aware of Lise’s extensive research on the Maine judicial system and welcome her to share her information with all of us. However, a need for remedy and reform exists.

New Hampshire has taken steps to reform their courts. Judges are no longer immune through Petitions for Redress of Grievance before the General Court (a.k.a. House of Representatives). Maine, and other states, must follow New Hampshire’s lead. Let’s keep an eye on this!