Judge jails editor over reporter’s use of recorder in court

Time to give the judge's campaign finances a closer look. I wonder if he's upset over not getting a much-coveted endorsement last time around.

 

Rules are rules. Follow them or suffer the consequences.

 

Ok. Then punish the offender.

 

You have to credit the editor for taking it, himself, for his reporter. It's nice to see the back-up. I feel like that's not necessarily a sure thing to have happen anymore.

And, why would a judge prohibit recording devices, especially audio ones, at least? It seems to me that'd be a contributing factor in accuracy of what gets reported. Who wouldn't want that?

 

You'd be surprised. For RI courts, you needed special permission ahead of time to take any photos or video, or record things. I think they were partially paranoid that the recording devices would pick up the "private" conferences they had at the bench. In which case, I'd say that they should instead hold the item in chambers. But there are still a ton of ornamental and procedural things - pomp and circumstance - that make court more annoying than it has to be.

 

I'll defer to someone like Tarheel316, but in my experience, the Rockingham/Southern Pines part of the state is full of good 'ol boys who are proud of the county's football team and their generations of white privilege, and put up with the golfers who just happen to help pay taxes at Pinehurst.

Reading the piece, it appears Futrell had a previous hissy with the ME over a photo, and was looking for an excuse to pick a fight with the paper. Why else would he be paying attention to the reporter instead of the murder case he's supposedly presiding over?

If Richmond County's anything like most North Carolina towns, Futrell's getting pats on the back this week at the local BBQ joint and his barber for "sticking it to the media." But he's now put himself in an undefensible position. Does he really think the appelate judge will back his BS knee-jerk jerkiness with a 30-day jail stay? I can't imagine the state supremes in Raleigh will like the embarrassment this ass brings to their judicial system, either.

The saving grace for the ME and the reporter is they probably won't stay in Rockingham long, especially when "spent a night in jail for standing up to a judge" goes to the top of the resume. But Futrell is never leaving that small town. That's a much worse punishment than wearing an orange jumpsuit.

 

Was once offered the SE spot in Rockingham. So glad I declined.

Imagine the punishment for actually criticizing Richmond County's football program ...

 

The process is the punishment. You can be vindicated in a court of law, but that won't get back the time, money and aggravation you spent fighting it.
We see it in everything these days, from the cops using the threat of it as a tool to search your car, all the way up to some of the investigations of Trump administration officials.

 

"The newspaper stopped covering the murder trial once Stone was taken into custody, partially out of fear the judge would retaliate. It has not reported on Stone's arrest or Sasser's fine."

This is where you double down.

 

This is a perfect example of why I feel judges have too much power. That judge gets to be a local dictator. And like you say look at the cost involved trying to fend him off. Not fair at all.

At the same time, the reporter was really stupid having that recorder out knowing the judge was a dick.