Judge Herman Thomas Resigns, What’s Next?

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

by Steve Alexander

Published: Mon, October 01, 2007 - 9:18 pm CST

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.

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