Today's winner is Seminole County(Florida) Judge Ralph Eriksson. Wizbang readers may remember last Sunday's Knucklehead winner, Jennifer Latham. She kidnapped a newborn baby boy from a Central Florida hospital. Less than two hours later Ms. Latham was apprehended.
You kidnap a baby, what do you think will happen to you? It is a crime punishable with a sentence up to life in prison. Judge Eriksson did the following.
Seminole County Judge Ralph Eriksson ordered 39-year-old Jennifer Latham released from custody, but she has to wear a device on her ankle so authorities can keep track of her movements.I thought this was plain nutty when I first read it. You commit kidnapping and get released without posting bail? What planet does this judge live on?Latham was arrested Friday and charged with kidnapping a newborn child from Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford. An alarm went off and a Lake Mary police officer pulled Latham over on Interstate 4 a little more than an hour later. The baby boy was in the car and was unharmed.
In making his determination Judge Eriksson recognnized that Latham had no prior offenses
The hearing was held Saturday morning at the Seminole County Jail. Latham, who kept her face covered with her long hair during the proceedings, said she didn't have a lawyer and will get a public defender. She did not have to pay a bond and will be set free under a pre-trial release program. She still has to get an ankle monitor before she can be released.
This isn't the first time Judge Eriksson has made a questionable decision in regards to bail.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- A Seminole County judge shouted at a hearing impaired man in court, and then ordered him to jail as he awaited trial for a misdemeanor charge.Make the judge repeat himself because you're hard of hearing, get $5,000 bail. Kidnap a baby, you get a Get out of Jail free card. What is wrong with this picture?55-year-old Daniel Bradshaw is facing a marijuana charge, but was locked up, after Judge Ralph Eriksson determined Bradshaw was wasting the court's time last Thursday.
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When Bradshaw entered a not guilty plea, Judge Eriksson sent him to jail with a $5,000 bond, even though prosecutors did not request incarceration.
As we find out from today's Orlando Sentinel, Jennifer Latham hardly had a spotless criminal record.
When she was booked into the Seminole County Jail on Friday, she told authorities her only previous arrest was for petty theft. County Judge Ralph Eriksson ruled that she could be released without putting up any bond if she agreed to be fitted with an electronic monitor.That's what should have been done to start with. Do you mean to tell me the court took Latham's word as to her past criminal record, or did someone not check her background thoroughly.Since then, Indiana court records surfaced showing she was sentenced in 2003 to three months in jail and 1½ years of probation after pleading guilty to a string of felony thefts. She stole a motor scooter, a toaster oven, a cell phone, fishing gear and other items on July 14, 2002, those records show.
On Monday, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrested her again on a charge of lying in an official report. Authorities are asking that she be held without bail on the new charge.
I think I've made a strong case for naming Seminole County Judge Ralph Eriksson today's Knucklehead of the Day.




Comments (5)
Sounds like a problem with ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Concerned Link Follower | April 1, 2008 9:36 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Sounds like a problem with the District Attorney, not the judge. Judges aren't supposed to be investigating defendants.
1. Posted by Concerned Link Follower | April 1, 2008 9:36 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 1, 2008 09:36
2. Posted by Jeff | April 1, 2008 10:10 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bill,
I would humbly submit the following for a possible KOD award ...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120701341410579079.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
2. Posted by Jeff | April 1, 2008 10:10 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 1, 2008 10:10
3. Posted by TGScott | April 1, 2008 11:07 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
She realized there was probably more money to be made in baby trafficking than just being a petty thief.
3. Posted by TGScott | April 1, 2008 11:07 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 1, 2008 11:07
4. Posted by Thomas Paine | April 1, 2008 12:30 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'd like to submit this for KOD:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/1/114514/6582/938/488249
Some self-styled "conservative" says he's changed his mind and is supporting Obama... another faux "conservative".
4. Posted by Thomas Paine | April 1, 2008 12:30 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 1, 2008 12:30
5. Posted by RRR | April 1, 2008 4:37 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Okay, enough is enough. I've lived in Florida since 1962 and I wouldn't live anywhere else. I'm tired of this guy slam dunking Florida. If it's so bad, stupid, backwoods or whatever then why live here. Every now and then I could see it but that's about 90% of his columns. Stop ripping off FARK, it was their idea 1st to feature Florida anyway.
5. Posted by RRR | April 1, 2008 4:37 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on April 1, 2008 16:37