latest newsletter from SCOPE.

[titaniumman]

This issue addresses the matter of restrictions placed on permits by judges and "weather self defense in practice is a need based privilege rather than a right". I find it hypocritical that Judge Boller of Erie Co. is a member of SCOPE, and a Judge that continues to restrict as he sees fit any application that comes before him, with Hunting and Target restrictions. Doesn't he (Judge Boller) realize that one of the main focuses of SCOPE currently is to ELIMINATE the practice of placing restrictions. And REPLACE Judges such as himself with more friendly 2nd Amendment Judges, who understand that the RT BA shall not be infringed.

[JJW]

Remember that judges are first attorneys. Attorneys have only one loyalty, greed, and that includes making other attorneys richer. Never lose sight of the fact that they are, like other politicians, Elected. They will say and do what ever they feel is necessary to get re-elected. Because if they are not re-elected, they will have to turn to one of those law firms for a job.

[SmokinLawyer]

Remember that judges are first attorneys. Attorneys have only one loyalty, greed, and that includes making other attorneys richer. Never lose sight of the fact that they are, like other politicians, Elected. They will say and do what ever they feel is necessary to get re-elected. Because if they are not re-elected, they will have to turn to one of those law firms for a job.

JJW, you paint with a pretty broad brush. You might notice from my username that I'm a practicing attorney; I'm also a retired judge. I mention these facts to help you understand that, unlike you, I actually do know a good deal about your subject matter. Please allow me to enlighten you. Attorneys, like doctors, plumbers, teachers and astronauts, are as varied in their motivations and priorities as any collection of individuals can be. I know attorneys who do most of their work for free, representing those who cannot afford to pay; I've also known attorneys who forgot why they went to law school and became consumed with making money, regardless of the harm they did to our system of justice. The vast majority of attorneys I've known are regular folk who work hard, try to give good value for their pay and conduct themselves honorably. Same with most of the judges I've worked with. Oh, sure, there's the occasional judge who catches a bad case of "robe-itus" as we call it, but they usually get weeded out by either their voters or their state's judicial qualifications commission pretty quickly.

There's nothing wrong with speaking out when someone abuses his/her authority; I do it myself when warranted. It is wrong to impugn the motivation and integrity of an entire profession.