Citizen Outrage, Disgraced Former Judge Emons is Teaching Ethics

A group of concerned citizens are staging a rally at the Fairfield Bar Association to protest disgraced former Judge Jane Emons teaching a class on ethics. They accuse Supreme Court Judge Andrew McDonald of tribalism and naiveté.

The class is scheduled for Wednesday October 16, 2019 at 12:00 to 2:00, at 970 Summer Street, Stamford, at the office of the Fairfield Bar Association. The public is invited to attend the rally and press conference outside on Summer St.

Emons has the dubious honor of having the most complaints filed against a judge in Connecticut history. She was also the first judge in 260 years to be dismissed due to public outrage at her allegedly unethical behavior.

“Having Emons teach a class on ethics is like hiring the fox to guard the hen house. Emons has destroyed so many people’s lives. It is ludicrous in light of her past history and recent forced retirement as a judge,” said a concerned citizen.

The citizens believe Emons is posturing to get herself back on the bench as a judge referee a move that would be disastrous to Connecticut families and a slap in the face to Connecticut Legislators who actually listened to the citizens and booted Emons.

“The judiciary should not allow Emons back on the bench. Do not think for one minute she needs the job. Emons is a double-digit millionaire as she inherited a car dealership. She is rich and she has proven herself to be cruel and unethical,” said a citizen.

In 2018 the Connecticut Legislature decided not to vote on Emons’ reconfirmation this was after Emons’ adamantly refused to voluntarily step down.

Specifically during the February 2018 reconfirmation hearing Emons, despite the prodding of politicos, refused to retire, stating with relish in the televised testimony that she “loves” her job. The Legislature retaliated by refusing to vote upon Emons.

The citizens believe the Legislature forced Emons to retire for good reason. They had each received more than 150 complaint letters from citizens – one senator stated “very credible letters.”

Many people claimed during testimony, and in letters, that Jane Emons unethically destroyed their lives. Many provided testimony and transcripts of Emons’ behavior including unlawfully keeping children from parents. Citizens reported that Emons abused her role frequently with behavior and rulings that were unethical and downright cruel.

During testimony citizens reported Emons would “scream’ in the courtroom, abuse protective/restraining order statutes, accuse people of violation of motions that had never been issued. Issue rulings on motions never submitted, ignored evidence and due process, threatened and even allegedly criminally framed a citizen, deny constitutional rights, embark on smear campaigns to other judges, unethically demanding huge bonds before a parent could see a child. and the most troubling – keeping parents from their own children.

In two cases in testimony Emons initiate restraining orders keeping a parent from a child - once for violation of an order that had never been issued. In both cases Appellate court judges overturned Emons’ orders.

During a press conference in February 2018 initiated by the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus against Emons’ reconfirmation, two lawyers, Garlinghouse and Greenan, publicly testified that Emons’ unethically kept the Myers child from his father and mother for 3 years – 3 of his four short years. There remains no known reason based on the law for Emons’ behavior.

“Emons reasons are a mystery and she seemed to know no boundaries,” said another concerned citizen. One of many who painted a scenario of a judge who crossed the line frequently sometime taking out personal and political vendettas from the bench.

Unfortunately the citizens are up against the tribalism of the Bar Association and some of the Judges who are circling the wagons to protect their sovereign right not to have their rulings questioned.

Most recently Supreme Court Judge McDonald gave a speech on judicial independence on September 25, 2019 at the Greenwich Retired Men’s Association. During his speech McDonald brought up the case of Jane Emons, stating: “The case has made some judges fearful of being thrown out of office any time they make a discretionary call,” McDonald said.

To which one citizen is indignant, “Sir, how dare you! Do you really think Jane Emons was thrown out of office for ‘making a discretionary call’ not at all, there is a long-standing pattern. The people in Fairfield Country, as a whole, are very educated, and they know when they are being treated unfairly and unethically. This is not about discretion based on law or wisdom, this is about habitual abuse.”

For example: At the reaffirmation hearing there were 21 judge up for reconfirmation and yet there were few complaints about the majority. Rep. Minnie Gonzales summed it up best, on page 151 of the February 16, 2018 hearing, she spoke directly to Emons,

“I think there may be around maybe 20 or 21 (judges for reconfirmation), and I don’t see a lot of people here complaining about the rest. I receive emails after emails after emails but all the emails they were complaining about you,” said Gonzalez referring to the sheer bulk of letters of complaint against Emons.

Tribalism is rampant among the judiciary according to the citizens. Case in point: One citizen, a former political candidate, claims that Jane Emons, unlawfully denied due process, kept her from her infirmed husband until his death, and that Emons next had her arrested repeatedly for crimes she could prove she did not commit and yet no judge will speak out against Emons nor give her justice against Emons. Her story is viewable at:

https://foundationforlitigantp...

One citizen described Judge McDonald as naive, “What do Judge McDonald and the other judges believe? A lawyer is dubbed “your honor” by the likes of Governors Rowland and Malloy and that they somehow grow honor?”

In his speech McDonald stated, "I submit that the rule of law demand more," he said. "Judges must be insulated from poltical pressure and threats rather than being treated as hostages in a raging political debate."

Which prompted another citizen to state: "McDonald is wrong, in Connecticut there exists no real mechanism to weed out bad judges. If not the legislature then who? They were the only mechanism in place. We believe the legislature did the right thing in eliminating Emons as some people are just not the appropriate for the role.

Many feel the Fairfield Bar Association allowing Emons to teach a course on ethics is to ignore the facts of what happened and to disrespect the Connecticut Legislature and the many citizens aggrieved.

The Citizens believe the Bar Association should not allow Emons to lecture and they are asking that Emons identify herself as a “former judge” not as a “retired judge” as that is not accurate.

Please call the Bar and complain 203-327-7041 and/or 860-223-4400. Or attend the rally to protest Emons’ teaching the class.