Daily Mail - Criminal Court judge was 'addicted to drugs for years, had sex during...

[edgarshade]

Criminal Court judge was 'addicted to drugs for years, had sex during court breaks and bought pills from convicts he'd sentenced'

By Associated Press Reporter

PUBLISHED: 19:41, 4 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:04, 4 April 2012

With reader comments

A Tennessee judge was so addicted to prescription drugs during his final two years on the bench, he was having sex and buying pills during courtroom breaks, at times purchasing from convicts he had previously sentenced, an investigation found.

His behavior has called into question many of the cases he presided over, including one of Knoxville's most notorious murders.

Many people didn't realize Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner had a problem until he stepped down from the bench and pleaded guilty in March 2011 to a single count of official misconduct.

More...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ner-addicted-drugs-bought-pills-convicts.html

 

[MemphisX3]

Oh shit! Do you know how people who are, at the very least, going to get new trials? Not to mention the inevitable cases that will be thrown out completely. Shame on this man. The worst part about this is that the four people that carjacked, raped, totured and murdered a 20 year old girl in Knoxville may get released....it's doubtful because of the case and flight risks but they could get a bond if they get a new trial. Let's just pray that he was the only unethical and drug addicted elected official in TN. (Tennessee is also widely regarded as the most politicaly corrupt state in the union. We have had multiple elected officials sent to prison on an array of charges. Tennessee is packed full of people like these judges it is no surprise to me that other corrupt and addicted officials did not say anything about their corrupt and addicted collegue because they don't need the exposure)

 

[MemphisX3]

Wiki search:

Ray Blanton (old news but relevent)
John ford
Operation Tennessee Waltz

I'm pretty sure we were actually dubbed the most corrupt state by TIME magazine and some other large publication back in 2011. Everyday TN news always has some sort of article about a new or ongoing investigation or trial for senators, judges, congressman, or alderman. In Memphis it's both politicians and police. The entire system is corrupt and a lot of tennesseans blames TN slow growth on that fact. If Memphis weren't in the hands of a select few corrupt assholes we would be as big and thriving as Atlanta by now.