Law Judge Resigns After Berating Defendant With Breathing Problems For Not Talking Correctly - Yes, It Was Florida

http://atlantablackstar.com/2018/04...ound-defendant-resigns-woman-dies-days-later/

A Broward County circuit judge has resigned after the unexpected death of a defendant whom she mercilessly berated in an arm-waving, finger-wagging tirade in her courtroom earlier this month.

Sandra Faye Twiggs, 59, was pushed into court in a wheelchair last Sunday, April 15, where she faced misdemeanor charges stemming from a domestic dispute with her daughter, the Miami Herald reported. Twiggs, who suffered from asthma and chronic lung disease COPD, was frail and struggling to explain her ailments, but that didn’t stop Judge Merrillee Ehrlich from tearing into her before erupting into a full-on diatribe.

Twiggs died three days later, with news of her death surfacing Friday. Ehrlich’s resignation followed soon after, though it’s unclear when her withdrawal was provided and when it will take effect, according to the newspaper.

“It is not appropriate for anyone to endure that kind of treatment,” said Gordon Weekes, chief assistant to elected Broward County public defender Howard Finkelstein. “… All that was required was a bit of patience and a bit of respect to allow this lady to speak, and to gather herself and to breathe.”

Instead, Twiggs passed away, “and never had the opportunity to have her dignity restored,” Weekes added.

Finkelstein himself described Ehrlich’s demeanor as “embarrassing … aggressive and tyrannical.”

“I was outraged,” he told the Sun-Sentinel. “What I saw there was somebody that is not mentally and emotionally fit to sit in judgment of human beings. … Nobody should suffer attacks like that because a judge is having a bad day.”

In footage the April 15 encounter, Ehrlich appears on the left in a split screen while Twiggs, who was seated in a wheelchair, is barely visible above a lectern on the opposite side of the screen during her appearance at the county court house, the Miami Herald reported. When Ehrlich asks Twiggs if she and her 19-year-old daughter, the alleged victim, live in the same home, Twiggs tries to answer but is quickly cut off.

Deviating from a simple “yes” or “no”, Twiggs was in the middle of explaining that her daughter does not stay with her full time.

“Excuse me! Don’t say anything beyond what I am asking you!” the judge snaps, before asking Twiggs’ lawyer to demand she stops talking.

Coughing, Twiggs then tries to tell the judge she needs treatment for her pulmonary issues. Goddaughter Carolyn Porter said the 59-year-old had trouble getting her medications while she was in jail. This was of no consolation to Ehrlich.

“Ma’am, I am not here to talk to you about your breathing treatments!” she erupts. Ehrlich then commands Twiggs’ lawyers to teach her some courtroom manners, saying, “…Will you say something in the microphone so that she can hear you and you can give her instructions about propriety in the court? I’m not going to spend all day with her interrupting me.”

The judge ultimately disposed of Twiggs’ case, allowing her to be released without bond for the domestic violence charge. Porter told the Miami Herald that after her god mother was released from jail and allowed to go home, she was “starving, dizzy and borderline breathless.” She said Twiggs was so devastated after the encounter that she was struggling to catch her breath.

Twiggs died in her sleep the following morning, a day after she was released, the newspaper reported.

“My mom is gone and there is nothing I can do about it,” said Twigg’s daughter, Michelle Ballard. “I’m now a teenager who will have to bury her mother.”

 

[Cilleystring]

Midway through the video

"Do you need water?"

"Yes and my breathing treat-"

"I'm not here to talk to you about your breathing treatment! Excuse me! Good Lord!"

She watched way too much judge judy

 

[Null]

Get that cock out of your mouth little faggot, we don't speak like queers in Florida.

 

[AJ 447]

First that Sheriff Israel guy, and now this? We need to shut down Broward county until we figure out what's going on.

 

[Ebonic Tutor]

Soon as I saw it was Fla I knew it was going to be Broward County, all the stuff having to do with law in that county is a huge shitshow. I wouldn't really trust them with anything from some of the stuff I've heard that didn't even make the news on top of the stuff that did.

 

[CIA Nigger]

First that Sheriff Israel guy, and now this? We need to shut down Broward county until we figure out what's going on.

You know how with restaurants and businesses doing poorly they fire everyone and hire new people when they realize management is rotten to the core? They need to do that with Broward County police.

 

[m0rnutz]

Judge sounded a little bit peeved that the old lady kept politely responding to her.

The judge hasn't been around very many senior black women, because this is how they talk. The judge fucked up a few times by not directing who her questions were towards, and that's on her, not the defendant.

 

[Don Kang]

“My mom is gone and there is nothing I can do about it,” said Twigg’s daughter, Michelle Ballard. “I’m now a teenager who will have to bury her mother.”

That shit hit me hard, not gonna lie. She has to live with the last memories of her mother being a courtroom dispute over some petty bullshit. I can't even imagine how she feels right now.

 

[CrunkLord420]

Judge sounded a little bit peeved that the old lady kept politely responding to her.

The judge hasn't been around very many senior black women, because this is how they talk. The judge fucked up a few times by not directing who her questions were towards, and that's on her, not the defendant.

Man what a fucking bitch, I wonder if this was an extreme example or if this was a normal thing. How embarrassing for all the court clerks and shit.

 

[Coconut Gun]

Florida news is supposed to be crazy and wacky, not sad and embarassing

 

[Maggots on a Train]

Man what a fucking bitch, I wonder if this was an extreme example or if this was a normal thing. How embarrassing for all the court clerks and shit.

Right now there is at least one bar full of attorneys celebrating her resignation. Some of them cackled with joy when they heard the news.

 

[Red Hood]

I thought people with breathing problems got special powers to choke people from a distance. Are you telling me Star Wars lied to me?

 

[CWCchange]

You know how with restaurants and businesses doing poorly they fire everyone and hire new people when they realize management is rotten to the core? They need to do that with Broward County police.

Broward's was badass back in the day. The first season of Cops was filmed mostly that area...

 

[Witchsmeller Pursuivant]

Seems shocking due to the final circumstances but judges like this are common.