Judge Herman Thomas Resigns, What’s Next?

By Steve Alexander Reporter
Published: Mon, October 01, 2007 - 10:18 pm Last Updated: Tue, October 02, 2007 - 10:05 am
Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/5594/
Steve Alexander
Steve Alexander
Reaction to Judge Herman Thomas' resignation is coming from all sides. Thomas was facing an ethics trial after being charged with violating Alabama's canons of conduct for judges. The claims include helping his cousin manipulate a jail sentence and of taking cases away from other judges without their permission. Thomas resigned Monday, about a month after new allegations were made against the embattled judge, including removing inmates from Metro Jail and paddling them in a closet-type area near his courtroom. Both Thomas and his attorney have denied all charges.

News Five tried to contact Thomas Monday night. He would not answer the door at his home and when News Five called, we were told Thomas couldn't come to the phone. But Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson said, "I agree with Judge Thomas decision. He should have resigned."
Tyson said the decision by Thomas should result in the cancellation of his trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary on alleged ethics violations.
But what about the criminal investigation launched by the Mobile County District Attorneys office? Tyson said," We're going to continue. We're going to make sure that we have all the facts. We're going to be very careful with those facts and when we get through with those, we will react to whatever the facts are. I think its terribly important that we do everything we can to protect the integrity of this courthouse." The governor and the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court now have to accept the resignation. Court officials said judicial ethics cases against judges are normally dropped when the judge resigns.

Now that Judge Herman Thomas has resigned, what happens to the District Attorney's criminal investigation?

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Speaking as one of the founding members of
S.P.A.N.K (Spank Prisoners *Not* Killers!)
I can assure you that our proud 37 year
history is filled with success stories
describing exactly what this judge did.

Many studies attributable from Freud to Ian
Briggs, conclusively demonstrate that a swift
paddle on the buttocks, dispensed with enough elbow grease to provoke an emotional response, cures
recidivistic tendencies by a whopping 57% in
all categories of felons.

Indeed, our follow up studies show
ex-convicts succeed more admirably in far
larger numbers than prisoners counseled
in traditional methods.

We like to think we’re more traditional;
either way, spanking works.  Whether it be
a judge, law enforcement officer or person
of authority, spanking should hold a special
place in a disciplined heart to help our
society prosper and keep this country free.

-osgo

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You didn’t just say paddle, you said spank them with a nail-covered two by four. That’s insane. Those paddlings you received from various adults obviously made you more than law abiding.

I always find it amazing when parents try to justify abuse as punishment. I raised two kids and never inflicted physical punishment. They are both in college, one is in law school. It is just not necessary. Parents who resort to that are either lazy or ignorant…most of the time they are both.

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There is no real evidence that spanking convicted criminals prevents them from committing crimes.  The judge seems to have broken the law. If so then he must go. Otherwise the whole thing is a silly waste of time.

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its really sad at this stage in his career to have this happen. he is probably no more guilty of anything than the current benchmates, (Come on charlie graddick?) nor the people who immedialy preceeded him. it looks like they are just up to get him on something. probably some of what is alleged he really did do, but i am sure he isnt the only one and it really didint seem all that serious.

i stood before him a few times about twenty years ago when he was a referee in child support court. he seemed fair and he was actually one of the members of the local judiciary i thought was pretty good.

there is probably a lot more to the entire story and Judge Thomas is probably just a small portion indeed, some things we are better off not knowing but i do feel as crazy as this all sounds the mobile judiciary is a lot poorer today without Judge Thomas’s presence on the bench.

46/male/caucasion/college/self employed if it matters

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“People are lucky I am not a judge.
I would spank convicts with a nail-covered two by four.

Thank God for judges like this who will actually PUNISH offenders.

I am a law abiding citizen, in part, due to paddle wielding parents, principals, and pastors.“sounds very right to me,he may be a old fashion judge with good morals ,i kind of missing action like that,God bless him!

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I mean seriously, what a crazy Judge!!!

http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

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Crazy, crazy banchees judge!!

http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

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To ak,
I stated that “in part” my upbringing caused me to be law-abiding.

Pacifistic coddling of hardened criminals is the reason that your house may be broken into next.

Get real, and put your psycho babble in the box in the basement with all your severed heads.

God Bless.

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Judge Thomas was right to have those offenders paddled but he was acting outside of the letter of Alabama’s law.

The legislature needs to authorize it as they authorized children in schools to be paddled if they got out of line. The judge shouldn’t hide his head, he should hold it proudly as criminals are coddled enough.

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