Crooked judges a big part of the cronyistic problem

[The Backlash Cometh]

Here is a sample of what goes on in Florida. I don't believe it's limited to the Tampa area:

"Tampa judge recalls invitation to conspiracy"

TAMPA -- A former Hillsborough County judge recalled a conversation more than 20 years ago when he was told about a small group of judges who watched out for their friends in court.

Donald Evans remembers fellow Judge F. Dennis Alvarez telling him about colleagues who gave one another a heads-up whenever friends were due in court. He was then asked if he was interested in joining. Evans said he told Alvarez not to put him on the list.

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Evans talked about what he perceived as a questionable arrangement in the county's traffic court, which allowed defendants with attorneys to keep their records clean by entering no-contest pleas and having judgments withheld in exchange for court costs.

The FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement have been looking into claims of case-fixing at the courthouse as well as other allegations of money laundering, loan-sharking, illegal gambling and prostitution.

More:


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-locjudges03050304may03,1,643946.story?coll=orl-home-headlines