3 ms·
This is the most dystopian thing I've heard about in awhile. It's sad this happened but it's even more sad the judge hasn't been disbarred and charged with assa
by grizzles 9y ago
This is the most dystopian thing I've heard about in awhile. It's sad this happened but it's even more sad the judge hasn't been disbarred and charged with assault.
- wahern 9y agoCharging him with assault might be difficult given the tremendous scope of judicial immunity. But if the judiciary as an institution wanted to keep its protections then it would at least hold a hearing. That said, some more context from another article, Gallagher later said he had ordered Morris to be shocked because "his demeanor continued to escalate" and Morris could have easily grabbed a nearby video monitor weighing over 200 pounds, affecting the safety of lawyers at the counsel table. Bill Ray, the lawyer who represented Morris at trial, told Texas Lawyer he didn't object to the shocking orders because Morris was behaving like a "loaded cannon ready to go off." "That guy is out of control I was standing right next to him and I was scared of him. And I've stood next to some pretty nasty people," Ray said. He also said the shock collar didn't appear to be hooked up correctly and he didn't think Morris was actually being shocked. http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_cant_use_electric_shocks_to_enforce_decorum_texas_appeals_court_rules http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_cant_use_electr... EDIT: The appellate court opinion throughly analyzes the judge's explanation. http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=76999589-1e11-4670-9154-3370000f62ba&coa=coa08&DT=Opinion&MediaID=aff99b35-6606-4b65-b46f-e78960e59755 http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersion...