Maryland Judicial Equality Committee Seeks Volunteers

Dan Scott writes, "I am helping to form an new group in Maryland for the
express purpose of lobbying the legislature and
raising the issues of gender
discrimination in the court system during this
election cycle in November 2002. It is my belief that
we need to approach the issue as a matter of Civil
Rights versus Father's Rights. By taking the approach
of equal treatment under the Law we will also be
drawing in women to uphold a basic cause which they
themselves have benefited. Discrimination is
discrimination, no matter who is the object of it. I
am sure you are appalled as I am when anyone is
discriminated against for whatever the reason whether
it be race, age, nationality, ethnicity, religion or
gender. The reasons given for the preferential
treatment of certain groups range from the subtle to
the outrageous, this is done by using people's fear
and ignorance to fan hatred using stereotypes." Read on for the remainder of Dan's announcement.Most of you are aware of the disturbing behavior being
carried out under the guise of victimization. I would
like you to consider if
they can do this to any man, then who is next? No one
should be singled out for discrimination by the State,
regardless of the excuses used, including
victimization. President Lincoln said "A house
divided against itself cannot stand."
http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/divided.htm
When the State discriminates, we the people are
clearly divided.

I have been in contact with delegates of the House
State Judiciary
Committee. Due to the recent upheaval concerning
Judge Thompson, certain delegates and lawyers have
become aware that there is a problem in Montgomery
County and Maryland in general with gender
discrimination and the undue influence of special
interest groups in the court system.

Acceptance of the problem is the first step in coming
to a solution. However, the delegates, like us need
to have a cohesive organization that will support them
in their legislative process. They are ready to
introduce legislation, however, they will need the
organized lobbying support to pass the bills. I am
seeking volunteers to help staff the committee, work
with legal and non-legal concerned citizens. I
strongly believe we have a singular opportunity this
year to make a difference for our children and
everyone who is affected by discrimination.

The Committee is seeking people to begin speaking out
against the undo
influence of special interest groups in the judicial
process. Of equal concern is exposing and limiting
further attempts by special interests groups insisting
upon greater rights and preferential treatment for
individuals of their group at the expense of everyone
else's rights. The basic premise being, one person or
group can not have more rights and privileges with
equity without taking those rights and privileges from
another. That special interest groups insisting upon
this course of action are attempting to circumvent one
of the foundation stones of the legal system, "equal
treatment under the law" as stated in the 14th
Amendment of the Constitution.

I think we can all agree that on the part of judges,it
is far easier to make a bad decision than to take the
effort to make a good one. Judge Thompson is a
perfect example of this. The judge made the effort in
Mr. Thornett's case to see that a reasonable standard
of justice was applied and then was castigated for it
by certain lawyers whose political views demanded that
anyone of certain physical characteristics be
considered guilty regardless of the motive of the
accuser. In fact, Judge Thompson's record in granting
protective orders bears out the consistency of his
conscience in handling the law, while other judges
barely bothered to do so. This is in direct contrast
to the prevailing legal thought of how judges grant Ex
Parte' requests for protective orders. Most judges
base their decision on two presumptions, one the
accuser is truthfully making a request and therefore
the accused is probably guilty. Two, is the ability of
the accused to commit the act, where a man is accused,
he automatically is presumed to be guilty on the basis
of his physical characteristic and stereotype of
having the physical strength to abuse. Based on these
two presumptions, no corrobating evidence or witnesses
are needed. To my knowledge the Judge Thompson has
denied 12% of all requested protective orders. A
certain political interest group, of which these
lawyers are members, brought charges against Judge
Thompson because he did not meet the political
correctness they demanded in application of the law.

As a group the Committee would get legislators to
sponsor legislation to correct the abuses we see in
the legal system, would inform the community about the
need of a fair and impartial legal system and gain the
necessary political support to bring about that
change. More importantly, this is an opportunity to
sponsor seminars for judges and other officials in the
legal system to act as a counterpoint to those special
interest groups who push their agenda at the expense
of everyone's civil rights.

Personally Since 1998, I have come across a number of
men in my situation that were falsely accused by their
spouses in order to gain an advantage in the divorce
process. Having attended Anger Management
at the Abused Person's Program, I found out from
speaking with many men in the class that apparently
men are being systematically removed from their homes
on a routine basis for reasons similar to myself.
There is an epidemic of abuse charges and because of
precedence they are all settled in the same manner.

As I began to search for answers of how this could
happen, I discovered that the problem is not isolated
to Montgomery County but is also a nationwide problem.
The recent problems that Judge Thompson encountered
with the local chapter of NOW bringing charges against
him, leads me to believe that the time is right for
bringing the issue of Equality Under the Law and the
inappropriate influence of special interest groups to
the public light. What happened to Judge Thompson is
a direct result of his challenging the notion that
someone is guilty when they are accused. As an
example, 76% of domestic violence cases result in a
finding against the accused, how does that compare to
percentage of people accused in a criminal case? I
believe the percentage is significantly less. How is
it that when the police and prosecutor are involved in
a criminal case with all the resources of the State at
their disposal that the rate of conviction is lower
than in a domestic violence case when they are not
involved? This is
precisely why Judge Thompson was attacked for his
decisions. He recognizes that there is a motive
involved when making an accusation. Particularly with
married men, the motive is also monetary, not just
revenge or hate. Guilt by accusation is Napoleonic
Law not English Law.

Having attempted to raise the issue with the State
Judiciary Committees in the Maryland Legislature for
the last few years with little interest on their part
has brought me to the firm conclusion that as one
person, my voice does not count. However, what I have
learned is that when a group of concerned citizens who
are willing band together to bring the issues to the
public as an organization, then and only then will
people in the legislature listen and act. There are
delegates who are willing to act, however, without the
political force of a group, they themselves have
little power to push the issue. If we will work
together then we can make a difference.

As a founding member of the committee, you and others
would have the ability to bring about positive change.
The committee will become what you make of it. In the
end, I believe everyone would benefit from having a

level playing field, countering the special interest
groups and applying pressure to abusive officials as
the way to accomplish this goal.

One voice is not enough. Spin colors perception and
perception colors reality. Whose voice will win out?
Can we afford to keep silent?

Dan Scott

Maryland Judicial Equality Committee

http://www.geocities.com/fightbigotry2002/index

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