WHAT A HEEL: Judge Sentences Domestic Abuser To Marriage With His Victim
The House of Ruth Maryland and the Women's Law Center of Maryland filed official complaints with the state's Judicial Disabilities Commission against Judge G. Darrell Russell for performed a marriage ceremony to prevent an (alleged) domestic violence victim from testifying against her (accused) batterer, reports The National Law Journal:
Russell was presiding over a domestic abuse case during which a lawyer for the defendant, Tyrone Wood, asked the judge for postponement so that Wood and his girlfriend, whom he was accused of beating, could wed. Maryland law exempts married individuals from testifying against their spouse.
Rather than pause the case, Russell proceeded to conduct the ceremony in his own chambers. After acquitting Wood of the charges, the judge commented: "I found you not guilty, so I can't sentence you as a defendant in any crimes ... but earlier today, I sentenced you to life married to her," according to a recording of the hearing posted by ABC news.
Russell has since been reassigned to work in chambers, meaning he is no longer presiding over cases in court. The women's groups are asking for a full investigation, which could potentially lead to his removal.
ABC News reports that Wood, 29, had been on trial for misdemeanor second-degree assault charge, after police were called to their home in the wee hours of November 29th:
[T]he woman told police that Wood picked a fight with her at 4 a.m., smacking her in the face and kicking her in the side. As the alleged assault continued, she told police, Wood banged her head into the wall and dragged her though the house before she was able to flee.
The responding police officer "found several visible injuries to victim ... including a bloody nose and a swollen left side of her face near her eye." A long red mark was also photographed on the woman's neck.
The officer also compiled a report called a "domestic violence lethality screen" in which the woman said she thought he might try to kill her and that he has threatened to kill her and/or her children in the past.
She also answered "yes" on several more questions, including whether he has access to a gun, whether he's ever tried to strangle or choke her and whether he's ever spied on her or left threatening messages.
The guns, she later told authorities, were hunting rifles kept in a safe.
The screen also noted that Wood is unemployed, controlling and has tried to kill himself.
Deputy State's Attorney Leo Ryan told ABC: “It's very frustrating. We view very seriously the crime of domestic violence. We understand that very often the nature of this crime means the victims are reluctant to testify."
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