AZ Republic’s Robert Robb denounces Bar trial of Andrew Thomas

A m e r i c a n P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona
Thursday, July 19, 2012

Robb: Criminal accusations against Thomas belonged fairly heard in a court of law, not a Bar disciplinary proceeding

Opinion relied upon Thomas’s press releases, not real evidence; indicating that the trial was rigged

Even the Arizona Republic’s columnist Robert Robb, no fan of Andrew Thomas, has written multiple times how the State Bar’s witchhunt against Thomas was wrong. Robb is not an attorney so he can safely speak out without fear of retaliation, unlike the poor attorneys who have dared speak up to defend Thomas. They have been retaliated against by losing their contracts with Maricopa County, having bar complaints filed against them, and losing their positions with the State Bar.

Robb recognizes that what is going on in Maricopa County government and the court system is mob behavior. First it was the kickbacks on the court tower; vendors who contributed heavily to Maricopa County’s golf tournament received pricey contracts on the court tower. Then it was smack down anyone who tried to investigate it. The smacking down continues, as anyone who dares to speak up about the corruption or stop it finds themselves under attack. This is nothing more than mob behavior running amok within our own county. The racketeering continues and escalates, as Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox awards herself $975,000 of our taxpayers’ money for “stress” over being prosecuted.

Here are some excerpts from Robb’s recent article:

The kitchen-sink approach the independent investigator took in the Thomas charges undermined the public perception of the process’ fairness.

Parsing Thomas’ press releases rather than just focusing on the big stuff, like charging a judge with a crime without probable cause, created a sense that the game was rigged.

The disciplinary-hearing panel concluded that Thomas violated two criminal statutes. This is fundamentally unfair. Guilt or innocence of criminal offenses has no business being judged in a professional disciplinary hearing.

The state Bar is a trade-association advocacy group that takes aggressive positions on public issues and controversies. It also plays a central role in disciplining lawyers.

Thomas protested that this constituted a conflict of interest because, early on, the Bar was investigating complaints against him for behavior that Bar officials had publicly criticized.

But that doesn’t change the institutional question of whether these two roles are appropriately vested in the same organization. It’s not the case for any other profession.

Recent changes have reduced the role of the Bar in the disciplinary process. But it is still where lawyer discipline begins, so the question remains.

Comments

Mary Jane says:

July 19, 2012 at 10:57 am

Meanwhile, the County continues to hand out large cash settlements to its cronies for “stress” while firing deputy county attorneys like Maria Brandon who tried to stop the massive illegal payouts. http://sonoranalliance.com/2012/04/21/county-supervisors-award-liberal-activist-randy-parraz-unasked-for-money-over-stress/

Prosecutor says:

July 19, 2012 at 11:00 am

When is the State Bar going to go after the corruption taking place in Maricopa County?

Frank says:

July 19, 2012 at 11:02 am

I’m friends with Mary Rose Wilcox and Randy Parraz. I wasn’t at the protest against Sheriff Joe, but can I have a million dollar settlement too? If Parraz was given one, and he wasn’t even at the protest, then I want in on that gravy train too!

Candid observer says:

July 19, 2012 at 11:05 am

The mob controls Maricopa County. Because they don’t have Italian names people don’t recognize it as such. Every day I wake up wondering what new county corruption will I hear about, how the liberal news media will spin it in order to diminish it, and how we the taxpayers will end up paying for it. How many years has this been going on for now? 2007 or 2008? Meanwhile, the only man left in office who can fight it, Sheriff Arpaio, is constantly under attack himself for trying to fight it.

Sgt. Flapjaw says:

July 19, 2012 at 6:52 pm

I grew up and did business as and adult in Cook County and Chicago Illinois where corruption was legal tender for any and all who could demonstrate the ability and willingness to cheat and steal. Some people think that once you get into politics or some Government office like a judge one becomes corrupted. Not so, you must be corrupt to enter the game. Hello Barrack Obama.
Maricopa County looks very much like where I grew up. The corruption is the in your face open to the public type of Illinois corruption. Once the judges cross over, there is no stopping the thieves. The only recourse is outside forces like FBI, but Hello Barrack Obama, our crooks have got it nailed all the way to the top.
I cannot say that I think Tom Horn should do the job after what we have seen with Andrew Thomas. We are in the control of some very evil and devious gangsters and we will not be able to shake them out of the tree until the population decide that they have had enough……We have waited for the people of Illinois to flush, but so far after about 100 years……Nothing. Is that our future? Just saying.

Bill says:

July 19, 2012 at 8:23 pm

If I were you, I would concentrate on doing what I could to get Romney elected. Everything else is a distraction. I woul start by getting him to come clean on his tax returns. I for one would like to know how to generate returns of fifty times my initial investment in ten years or so!

- zoo says:
  
  July 19, 2012 at 8:35 pm
  
  How about a trade? Tweleve years of Romney’s tax returns for:
  
  1) Original microfilm of Obama’s 1961 Hawaiian birth certificate.
  2) Marriage license between Obama’s father (Barak Sr.) and mother (Stanley Ann Dunham)— not found, not released
  3) Obama’s baptism records — sealed
  4) Obama’s adoption records — sealed
  5) Records of Obama’s and his mother’s reptriation as US citizens on return from Indonesia — not found, not released
  6) Name change (Barry Sotero to Barack Hussein Obama) records — not found, not released
  7) Noelani Elementary School (Hawaii)— not released
  8) Punahou School financial aid or school records — not released
  9) Occidental College financial aid records — not released
  10) Columbia College records — not released
  11) Columbia senior thesis — not released
  12) Harvard Law School records (not mentioned below, but not released)
  13) Obama’s law client list — sealed
  14) Obama’s files from career as an Illinois State Senator — sealed
  15) Obama’s record with Illinois State Bar Association — sealed
  16) Obama’s medical records — not released
  17) Obama’s passport records — not released
  
  Or would this one of them there “distractions.”
  
  - Jeff says:
    
    July 19, 2012 at 10:39 pm
    
    No, that would just you being the nut you are.
    
    I’m sure the Republican party is proud of you, Zoo.
    
    - zoo says:
      
      July 20, 2012 at 12:23 pm
      
      Bitchy? Irritable? Menstrual cramping?
      
      Take Dem-Troll ® !!!
      
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