Arkansas Blog

Lightle's a lesbian, right? How will that play in the race? Will help in Hillcrest a lot (a la Kathy Webb) but elsewhere?

Can Lightlee cook as well as Cathy? Love me some dim sum!

That's Slocum Pickell, not Sloan.

ARK. BLOG: Typing too fast for conditions (of brain).

Slocum Pickell...not Sloan...

I don't know if she can cook, I don't think that that is relevant to being a good judge. However, i do know that she has done a great job as the Environmental Judge. Gov Beebe made a good choice. I have set in her courtroom, it is ran very effectively. She has revitalized the Court and has the respect of all. Her opponents talk about all their criminal experience, but neither has set day after day and ran a courtroom. Lightle has preided over Criminal Court for Judge Munson numerous times this year. She knows the law, she knows the job. Like they say ELECT A JUDGE WHO IS A JUDGE.

I don't know if she can cook either, but I sure am offended by all of these Alice Lightle literature mailings that keep piling up everyday in my home. Most every one them talks about how Lightle is "a judge who knows the job." This, despite the fact that she hasn't practiced criminal law in her whole legal career and has never been elected or appointed to the bench of a criminal court. She's been an environmental judge for a few months. What gives? How can that be ethical for a sitting judge to repeatedly advertise that she a "judge that knows the job" she has never held the job or even practiced criminal law?

I don't know if she can cook either, but I sure am offended by all of these Alice Lightle literature mailings that keep piling up everyday in my home. Most every one them talks about how Lightle is "a judge who knows the job." This, despite the fact that she hasn't practiced criminal law in her whole legal career and has never been elected or appointed to the bench of a criminal court. She's been an environmental judge for a few months. What gives? How can that be ethical for a sitting judge to repeatedly advertise that she a "judge that knows the job" she has never held the job or even practiced criminal law?

gofightwin:

You should know if she can cook since she is your girlfriend.

I voted for Lightle. Having run a court is a big deal. The others seem like good folk, but I'll take someone who knows how to manage a courtroom. (As long as it aint McGowan; she disproves the theory of experience being a good thing at all times!)

Did you get so upset you hit the button twice??? Chill. The job is being a JUDGE not a prosecutor, not a criminal defense lawyer, JUDGE.

Since a poster on this blog's thread dealing with the State Representative 38 race in Pulaski Hts saw fit to mention John Edwards' son's ACT score, I'll add that Alice Lightle's son, also a senior at Central, has a high ACT score, too. Sorry I don't know the specific "number." I believe he'll be joining his brother at Hendrix next year, also the college choice of Edwards's son. Lightle also has a daughter at Central. I don't know how good Finklestein's cooking is, or Lightle's either. It's probably not that important, though.

bandit, you got me. It just that Judge Lightle has been so busy being a Judge and a candidate, and a mother to her children, and working with community groups to help clean up Little Rock...she hasn't cooked in a long time. ELECT A JUDGE WHO IS A JUDGE, and have a nice day.

Is she a lez of the flannel or lipstick type?

ARK. BLOG: To the penalty box

The invasion of Lightle supporters does more harm than good. Why should I vote for someone who turns a blog into a campaign brochure?

Finkelstein has served as special judge on numerous ocasions. Lightle's few months as an appointed judge in the "barking dog court" don't give her an advantage in courtroom management. Where Lightle is deficient and Finkelstein superior is experience in criminal court. Finkelstein has been a defense attorney and a prosecutor. He's seen it from both sides. Lightle has done neither. I know both candidates, they are great folks....Finkelstein is just better qualified to be the Criminal Court judge. Lightle should run for a Circuit position. And whoever put that last mailer together which showed Lightle in the courtroom with her four African American assitants should be publicly whipped. Can you say pander?

Hugh is clearly the most qualified candidate for this position. Environmental court is completely different from criminal court. We need a judge with trial experience who knows how to preside over actual criminal trials. I know Ms. Lightle is a great person, but she just doesn't have even close to the experience necessary to effectively run criminal court. Hugh is the only qualified, rational choice.

NEWS BREAK......

In NWA in the District 3 Court of Appeals race things are critical. When you see the names
HUTCHINSON and JIM HOLT attached to judicial candidate Ron Williamson's name you had better
shudder and work for Courtney Henry who is drawing support from both sides of the aisle.

Mr Williams was a labor lawyer for Walmart for 20 some odd years. One must wonder if he was
involved with the "union project" at Wally.

"Wal-Mart, in a separate legal complaint with a former Coughlin subordinate, called the union project a "complete fabrication." But what made Coughlin's defense so powerful - and, in a way, so convenient - was that it seemed so plausible to longtime observers of the company.

Such a scheme "certainly would not be out of character," said Harley Shaiken, a professor on labor issues at the University of California at Berkeley who has studied Wal-Mart. "Given Wal-Mart's antipathy for unions and its aggressiveness in fighting them, what Coughlin fabricated appeared to be real."

Wal-Mart has long been known for its bare-knuckled approach to fighting unions. When employees at an outlet in Canada voted last year to unionize, the retailer shut the store down, contending that it was unprofitable. In 2000, shortly after 11 Wal-Mart meat cutters in Texas voted to form a union, the company eliminated meat-cutter jobs companywide and announced that it would use prepackaged meat instead.

The National Labor Relations Board has filed dozens of complaints against Wal-Mart for using hardball tactics to fight unions, like improperly firing union supporters and threatening to deny bonuses to management if workers unionized."

First off, I don't think Judges should be popularly elected at all. It seems if you are not willing to kiss as down at the Democratic Party or go to all the ridiculous political fundraisers LR has every night and run in the right social crowds...well then by GOD you are not allowed to be a Judge. I have found the most popular and the most qualified are usually mutually exclusive items.

But I digress we are stuck with these elections.

AND I am not sure how Kathy Webb got caught up in all of this? She is my favorite legislator in the State House right now. (And Joyce Elliott soon to be my favorite State Senator) And I really like Alice Lightle and if she were running for State Rep I think I would vote for her. And I know Kathy whole heartedly supports Alice...

BUT call me crazy I don't see how Alice is qualified? She did a great job serving as Kathy's campaign manager and yes she was a Democratic party socialite/activist so that landed her an appointment from Governor Beebe. But I am sorry serving a short term on the Environmental court that does not qualify you to serve permanently on a Criminal Court.

Alice even said she would rather continue serving as an Environmental Judge but can't. She basically window shopped the Judge races until one came open and that happened to be the criminal court.

Hugh Finkelstein lives in the wrong political neighborhood (West Little Rock) and probably has way too many Republican friends for the Hillcrest crowd to embrace...

BUT the one thing he does have is the qualifications to be a Criminal Judge

He has been a criminal defense attorney and he has worked for over a decade in the City's Prosecutor's Office

That's a pretty easy decision for a Criminal Court, one person is a wonderful likeable candidate and the other is qualified to be a Judge on the Criminal Court

Hugh Finkelstein deserves to be Judge for this Criminal Court.

Judge Lightle a 'good judge'? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME RIGHT?
I've seen manic bipolars on acid give out decisions more fairly! I too have sat in her courtroom from the beginning and now here near the end of her term as an appointed judge and she is certainly proven that everyone else can run her court but her. She has proven to be the MOST inconsistant judge I've seen in a long time.
Somebody needs to get a fricken grip. If she pulls out the same manic decisions that she did in Enviromental court, then your neighborhood and maybe you will have more robberies and all sorts of illegal activity occurring more often than you can shake a stick out, let alone call 911 over...

Give me a break....

Environmental court in Little Rock meets a couple of afternoons a week. The issues are serious for residents of the city: dogs running at large, grass too tall, old cars in the yard, tree stumps that need to be reomoved...CODE violations. These things are important to keeping our fair city beautiful. Criminal court meets every single day. The menu there includes capital murder, aggravated robbery, shootings, stabbings, burglars, thieves. That is on a slow day. EVERY DAY, decisions are made in that court that affect you and your family. Criminal court is not about pretty streets, it is about SAFE STREETS. An appointed judge who manages to keep a civil docket of tickets running smoothly a few days a week is not the person you want MANAGING THE CRIMINALS OF THIS CITY. This Judge doesn't think juveniles should ever be charged as adults. She believes bonds should be low. She wants proof beyond ANY doubt, not a reasonable dout. She does not know the rules of evidence or the rules of criminal procedure. There is a perfectly good reason for that -- SHE HAS NEVER HAD TO USE THEM. Unfortunately, our beautiful town is overrun with criminals, killers, rapists, robbers, burglers, drug dealers, and gangs. Alice Lightle, no matter how many mailouts or how glossy they are, does not have the experience needed to handle this crowd. Hugh Finklestein has spent 16 years dealing with criminals, their lawyers, prosecutors and judges. Let's compare how many days in a 16 year career he has logged in a court room versus Judge Lightle. A few months of Johnny-come-lately-apointee-Judge probably has provided her with more courtroom hours than she has seen in the entirety of her career prior to now. How many times has she looked into the eyes of a murderer? Stood next to him (or her) in court? How many times a rapist? How many times has she looked into the eyes of a victim? Sat down with a victim's family? Heard the verdict of guilty or not guilty? Sent a man (or woman) to prison? To jail? Does she know how to read an ACIC printout? Does she know the classifications of felonies? Or punishments? Has she ever set one foot into the Pulsaki County Regional Detention Center? These are the things I want to know. WHAT ARE HER QUALIFICATIONS??? "Running a court." What a joke that is. This job is not about running a court, it is about managing crime and criminals and an overcrowded jail. You better think long and hard before you vote for a nice lady just because she's nice. If it is your child that is raped, robbed, murdered, beaten; if you are the family burgled, the person whose identity is stolen -- is that what you are looking for ??? A nice lady to make sure he gets a low bond in the morning? And if your family member is the one who gets arrested for it, do you really want him to have a judge that has no idea what the rules of criminal procedure are about, the rules of evidence? What kind of pretrial hearings should be had? What conditions there should be on the bond to get him the help he might need while you wait for trial?? There ARE safeguards in place to protect all citizens, but they won't protect anyone if the Judge doesn't know how what they are or how to apply them.

Every single person I have met who intends to vote for Lightle has explained to me, but "she is so nice." I can tell you, when the roll is called at 8:30 a.m. down in the criminal courtroom tomorrow, i don't give one whit about NICE. How about COMPETANT? EXPERIENCED? QUALIFIED? TOUGH? If you don't vote for those qualities you need to be ready to move, because in about six months the criminals will be running this town and YOUR STREETS.

It wasn't Lightle's Democratic activism that got her the job, maybe it had something to do with her dad being a partner at the Governor's Searcy Law Firm.

SO basically the qualification to be judge is to let your father's political connections land you an "appointment" then take lots of pictures in a black robe, and talk about your experience and how you "know the job". Then rub Bhudda's fat belly three times and pray that all the voters will actually buy this as being more qualified than a candidate whose entire career has been dealing with the Criminal Justice System.

Talk about a hose job!

But this is Arkansas where political cronyism and the good ole boy network reign supreme.

And another thing, since we're talking about Judge Lightle, (I'm still mad about all the Lightle lovers). Have you seen your neighborhoods lately? Do you know why they look like that? Sitting in as a court observer she lets people out with no final issues resolved on these houses. I see and hear code people all the time out in the neighborhoods doing their job and getting people in court only to see the docket full of vacant houses only to be dismissed or closed out because she feels that they've been in her presence too long. TOO LONG? I live next door to a vacant house and it's been that way for the last 25 years, some code person got them in court only to find out that she closed out the case because they were in court too long...nothing ever changed on that house. When I observe her and her courtroom, she does NOT run her court, her clerks do...do you want the criminal clerks running these cases in criminal court?
Judge Lightle may be 'nice', she may be appointed by the Gov himself, but she's not worth the weight of that robe and nice does not cut it.
Envirmental court has been laughed at by the home ownersin court because sure, they go to court on their bad houses, all they have to pay is $50 while our neighborhoods and city are deteriorating and bringing down the value, allowing bums to remain in these houses doing their drugs and criminal mischief. So why vote for this 'nice' lady when she'll allow those criminals to out in her new court and back on the streets?
Yeah, I'll back her....right out the door I'll back her....

Enviromental court has been a joke because of her and the owners know it.

We have nine judges, supposedly supremely competent, who seem bound and determined to overturn the rulings of their predecessors based up;on their personal predilections, not justice, not the law, not precedent, just personal preference.

In fact for some of them, the concept of judicial detachment and avoiding the appearance of impropriety seems beneath their personal desires and wants despite the code of conduct. ". . . the code of conduct for federal judges sets guidelines for members of the judiciary, but it does not set clear-cut rules. A judge should "act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary," it says. "A judge should not allow family, social or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgments," it says. Nor should a judge "permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge. . . ."

Perhaps a judge who is not a trained lawyer could bring a little justice back to the courts instead of rampant conservative activism rewriting the law and codes of conduct. Could it be worse than the Supremes over the last nine years?

Doc Holliday was a drunken idiot.

Maybe that's why you like the nickname.

Are you seriously suggesting that a Criminal Court Judicial Position is the place to experiment with putting an unexperienced lawyer? District Court judges don't overturn their "predecessors", they make sure rapists and murderers have an appropriate bond and that the community is safe. They ensure that both the victim and the defendants have a fair trial.

We don't need a judge whose feelings override common sense.

Earlier this year, a man tried to kill an Arkansas Game and Fish Officer who was performing his duties. Thankfully, the officer had a bullet proof vest on and survived. "judge" LIGHTle set his bond at $15,000.00 That means the Defendant only had to cough up $1,500.00 to a bail bondsman to get back on the streets. THAT IS NOT a HYPOTHETICAL. That really happened. I've seen enough of Judghe LIGHTle to know that she's Light on Reason and Heavily concerned with Defendant's rights.

Look, I'm not saying that Alice Lightle shouldn't run for city hall or something, but criminal court???? That's not candy land. It's important. If what I'm hearing is right, she hasn't practiced criminal law. She's hasn't represented the accused. She has prosecuted the accused. She just hasn't done either. Now, I must confess, I am pretty successful attorney in our fair city. But, I'm the first to admit that I AM NOT qualified to serve as a judge on such a specialized court. The reason is simple. I have never practiced criminal law. What makes Lightle think she is? It really is quite reckless and egotistical for her to think she is. What's scary is that she wants to pawn that eog and recklessness off on the rest of us. I'm not buying.

What also needs to be discusses are the rumors that Lightle has discussed switching caseloads with Mark Leverett, should he be elected.

WHAT?

The implications of that if true are disturbing. It could mean that these candidates are fooling voters.

I personally don't believe that these two would actually do such a thing, but I have heard the rumors.

Orval Eugene makes a good point about Lightle's window shopping for judgeship:

Hugh Finkelstein intended to run for this judgeship all along. See AR Times on 11/1/07. Even before that time, he had declared his intention to run for this position, and at that moment Lightle was a "possible entrant for circuit court" race. Sanders was nowhere to be seen.

http://arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=3d54f9bb-4a6b-4d07-aac1-419da6bb7b87

As a matter of fact, Alice Lightle had stated that she would not run against incumbent judge Lee Munson. Maybe, not willing to take on an incumbent judge due to lack of qualifications? Then, lo and behold, Munson announces retirement and suddenly she's "who's right for this job" according to my latest postcard. Why wasn't she right back in 2007? Hugh has been getting the experience needed for this job, announcing his intention to run for it, regardless of whoever else might be in the race, and has never toyed with some other judicial position. Alice decided a few months back she sure likes the black dress and then dilly dallies around trying to decide which race that her connections and mailouts can buy.

Now she's supposed to be changing changing caseloads with Mark Leverett if he wins ???

"Tired Realist" aka supporter of a candidate other than Lightle:

"She believes bonds should be low. "

WOW! It looks like she actually read the constitution!!! The Eighth Ammendment guards against excessive bail, yet this little tid bit is constantly disregarded. The point of bail is that a person must leave something of substantive enough value to ensure that they will return for their court date. THE POINT OF BAIL IS NOT PUNISHMENT. Even given this protection in the bill of rights, judges constantly abuse their discretion and apply bonds impossible for the defendant to pay. Normal people don't have $25,000 just sitting around. How many crimes do you read about in the paper with bonds set at $1,000,000? The vast majority of criminal defendants are below average income earners, you think they got a million hidden under their mattress???

The current bail system is totally flawed. Those with money can easily go to a bail bondsman and pay $10,000 on a $100,000 bond. A poor person with a $25,000 bail would have to pay $2,500--$2,500 they knew they wouldn't get back. Now, if you only make $17,000/yr, can you afford that? NO!! It's cheaper to stay in jail for a few months.

Imagine you are charged with a crime. Now, I know you're white and upper middle-class so you will never actually be charged with a crime, but let's just pretend. Not only do you pay a lawyer a good $10,000 or so, but the non-Lightle judge sets your bond at $250,000, so you have to pony up $25,000. Even though you are innocent, you've lost $35,000. What is the justice in that?

"This Judge doesn't think juveniles should ever be charged as adults."

I admit, it would be novel to have a judge that had any respect for juveile law to hold this office. If the legislature intended for judges to routinely charge 16 year old kids as adults, they would have fucking made the cut off for juvenile court 16 then wouldn't they? What point is there in having any juvenile statutes what so ever when our elected judges chronically disregard them?

"It wasn't Lightle's Democratic activism that got her the job, maybe it had something to do with her dad being a partner at the Governor's Searcy Law Firm.

SO basically the qualification to be judge is to let your father's political connections.."

No, sweetie, that's not how we electe judges. That's how we elect AGs.

Other important things: The two groups that will interact mostly with this court are the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police and the Little Rock Black Fraternal Order of Police. Guess who they endorced? HUGH FINKELSTEIN! Sure Alice is nice. I am sure she is a great person. I also like and respect Kathy Webb, but this is not a popularity contest, people. Hugh has the experience needed to do this job. Other things people might not know about Hugh: He is a certified law enforcement instructor. He teaches police through the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute. The police know and respect him. Further, the criminal defense bar knows and respects him. He was president of the Pulaski County Bar Association. The poster above worries that the point of bail is not for punishment. That is true. The goal is to insure a defendant appears at trial, but one other factor is whether they are likely to commit a crime while out on bail. Whose experience would be better served deciding these two issues? A person who has NEVER had to consider either option, or a person who has worked in the criminal justice system for 16 years? I think Hugh would have a real good idea as to the type of person that would fail to appear or commit new crimes. Folks, this is the safety of your homes you are talking about. $15,000 bond for somebody that tried to kill a game warden!?! I hope that is not true. If that is, then the decision is easy.

LOL. Basil, I do try to support the most qualified candidate for any race. I greatly respect my vote, your vote, and meaningful discourse.

Based on your points, I assume you are familiar with ARCP 8.5. The point of bail is not punishment -- you are right on this point. But the import of bail is not solely to ensure appearance -- it is also to KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE. That is why the court is allowed, pursuant to the rules of criminal procedure, to consider the defendant's character and reputation, prior criminal history, nature of current charge and aggravating/mitigating factors, and possibility of future violations of law. "Excessive bail" is in the eye of the beholder, and just because the bail amount is something the defendant cannot afford, it does not mean it is excessive. You are right that the bond should be an incentive to appear, and if the amount is trivial, it does not serve the purpose. I'm just not sure that Judge Lightle is aware of this rule and how bond issues should be determined. These points that you have sound like excellent points to make in a courtroom in front of a judge who is familiar with the rules and can make sound rulings based on experience. I don't want our criminal judge to need on-the-bench training to learn how to handle these types of issues.

As for juveniles, judges don't charge 16 year olds as adults, prosecutors do. Circuit court judges can have hearings on the matter if one is requested. So the issue is not one brought before a district court judge. I expect that if you would do a little research, at least in Pulaski County, the vast majority of 16 year olds charged with criminal offenses are committing aggravated robberies, terroristic acts (drive-by shootings), batteries, and other violent offenses. The legislature DID specifically authorize those cases to be heard in adult courts by their provisions in the juvenile code specifying that circuit courts could have jurisdiction over those types of offenses. It is unfortunate that there is so much violent crime being committed by these young persons, but to simply make the statement that "I don't agree with juveniles being charged as adults" seems to be a person with blinders on, to the realities of our situation here in LR. Now, I didn't hear that statement, but I gave it some credence because I trust the source, and because it seems consistent with other positions I have seen or read of Judge Lightle taking. Again, district court does not determine this issue, it just goes to my general point that a person educated on such matters would know these things must be determined on a case by case basis; gross generalizations cannot apply.

I believe we could have a colorful and meaningful debate on these issues -- in this or any other forum. Do you really believe it would add to that debate to invite Alice Lightle? I suspect she'd have precious little to say.



Rule 8.5. Pretrial release inquiry: when conducted; nature of.
(a) A pretrial release inquiry shall be conducted by the judicial officer prior to or at the first appearance of the defendant.
(b) The inquiry should take the form of an assessment of factors relevant to the pretrial release decision, such as:
(i) the defendant's employment status, history and financial condition;
(ii) the nature and extent of his family relationships;
(iii) his past and present residence;
(iv) his character and reputation;
(v) persons who agree to assist him in attending court at the proper times;
(vi) the nature of the current charge and any mitigating or aggravating factors that may bear on the likelihood of conviction and the possible penalty;
(vii) the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, and, if he previously has been released pending trial, whether he appeared as required;
(viii) any facts indicating the possibility of violations of law if the defendant is released without restrictions; and
(ix) any other facts tending to indicate that the defendant has strong ties to the community and is not likely to flee the jurisdiction.

But can Finklestein COOK? Nobody's yet answered that crucial question asked of Lightle.

Whether Lightle personally believes that juveniles should be tried as adults doesn't really matter, as motions to transfer will be made in circuit, not district, courts.

Mallen1, you mention sitting in on court sessions as an observer.

Since you're taking a decided stand re: a candidate (and that's surely your right), I just want to ask a question for clarification.

You wouldn't by any chance have any family connections at all to the AR Judicial Disciplinary Commission, would you? If so, I'd be disturbed by your weighing in re: a particular candidate.

Just asking, as a concerned citizen who is sincerely listening to make an informed decision when I vote....

Cool, I didn't know we had a penalty box... How long is Mondo in? And does the question get answered when he gets out?

The clear choice in this race is Hugh.

I have meet ALice on a few occasisons and she has seemed very nice. However I don't think getting appointed to be a Judge by your Daddy's Law Partner and sitting in for Judge Munson really qualifies her to be the criminal court Judge.

Hugh on the other hand has spent his entire career in the realm of criminal law. First as a defense attorney and then as a prosecutor, which he still is today.

Alice's to my knowledge has never tired a criminal case, jury or nonjury, and yet crows on and on about her experience as Judge? Her expereince is telling people to mow their yards, quiet their dogs and clean up their yards. For that she gets to don a black robe and run around saying that we should elect a Judge to be Judge.

No, we should elect the most qualified candidate to be Judge, and that choice by a wide margin is Hugh.

I found it odd that the Arkansas Times semi-endorsed (ie worthy of mention) two cadidates in the race, Hugh and Alice.

Seems to me that the Times knows Hugh is the most qualified and that's why they mentioned him, Alice on the other hand is a strong democratic party member, and the Times seems smart enough to play both sides of the fence on this one and keep party's (yes I know it is nonpartisan, but removing the R & D from the ballot doesn't change much if you follow politics) stalwart in the front with Hugh.

"It wasn't Lightle's Democratic activism that got her the job, maybe it had something to do with her dad being a partner at the Governor's Searcy Law Firm.

SO basically the qualification to be judge is to let your father's political connections.."

No, sweetie, that's not how we electe judges. That's how we elect AGs."

It's not how we elect them but it sure as hell is how Judge Alice got appointed.