Former Judge Cited for Reckless Driving

The triumphant return of Slater the Deflator!

What a loser former judge....

The only profession in this State that has almost unlimited power and that go unchecked in their jobs are judges. There are some big ego maniacs that sit on the bench (men and women) and some real weirdoes too. When a judge admits to even any wrong doing it is a special day indeed. I for one would love to see some sort of civilian review board (they currently are reviewed by their fellow judges) that keep these people that think they are a god in check.

This is so sad. I know Judge Slater and know he is better than this. Anger management classes are in order it seems. Such poor judgement from a judge.

I'd guess he's not a fan of Taiko drumming in the morning.

I drive by Judge Slater's house on the way to work each day. Don't know him personally but he sometimes waves and seems pretty jovial. I suspect the concert at the Bowl (pretty unusual to have one in the morning) might have bugged him. He lives one canyon/gully over from the Bowl so should easily be able to hear any concert going on.

"The triumphant return of Slater the Deflator!" -binky-
Slater should deflate his tires in the interest of public safety.

The retired judge should of been checked for being under the influence!! Seems like ethics is only a term departments use on employees. It sounds like celeberty justice, let them walk.

Hey, he is judge damn it! If he wants to run people over than he should. Wasn't too long ago that or vice president shotgunned someone and got away with it. Hunting accident-wink,wink.

What is it about the concept of "ENTITLEMENT" that none of you seem to understand? I say give the judge a tank and let him loose in the Paseo Neuvo and on City Hall.

Hello there! He hasn't gotten away with anything. He was "cited for reckless driving." He got a ticket. No one was hurt.

I know him and he's a very nice man.

Yeah, anybody else would probably be facing ADW charges, plus a blood test, and who knows maybe even a body cavity search.

"his car came to rest on the lawn... he got out and was angry"

Are you kidding me! He has a serious problem and at the least should have to be re-tested for his driver's license. How old is he anyways? This behavior is a bit too much. These are not the signs of someone thinking clearly.

It would seem the good judge was understandably frustrated. While what he did was against the law, there was never any question about being under the influence. He was not driving fast and was no doubt aware of the people he was moving around. The police officer likely refused to move out of the way. Sounds to me like the "danger" has been greatly exaggerated. I've known the judge for many, many years. I am sure he was taking care and indeed no one was hurt.

To you bloggers who say how you've known Slater for years and what a nice guy he is, you nonetheless miss the point of the article: He behaved selfishly and in a reckless manner, and *that* is the issue, not your previous experiences with the man.

re: Kathryn:

Frustrated, duly or not, what is remarkable and alarming about Slater's behavior and actions is they were so off the rails as to attract the attention of cops and result in a citation.

And you (nor I) have no way to know if he was "not driving fast," or even if he was, as you assert "no doubt aware of the people he was moving around." He left the road and was dodging barricades and babies, for Pete's sake!

Your final knee-jerk defense of your friend of "many, many years" is the capper:

::: "The police officer likely refused to move out of the way. Sounds to me like the "danger" has been greatly exaggerated."

Slater is a private citizen who should be heeding any and all cops stationed at barricades -- not ordering them to move out of the way. And he should not be driving off the road, slaloming around cops & kids, menacing other pedestrians, and jumping out of his car loaded for bear (if the facts cited in the article are correct).

And you, Kathryn, Friend of Slater, should examine what you are defending and justifying, and be happy your amigo wasn't thrown in the pokey for being a huge Ass.

re:Binky: Read the article again:
“He was not going fast but he was not stopping,” McCaffrey said.

Well, if you are taking as fact the testimony of the police spokeman -- which I was attempting to avoid as this is not any legal testimony -- please note all the other events which took place with Deflator behind the wheel, which you studiously avoid:

Slater allegedly:
- drove on to a curb
- avoided two barricades
- brushed a security guard with his car
- almost hit someone with a stroller
- forced a police officer to evade his oncoming car
- was not going fast
- was not stopping
- got out an "demanded" to speak to the head of the Bowl

That's quite a wild ride.

And as you can see, I did read the article before I filed my comment.

I've heard Pol Pot was a nice man with a pleasant temperament. So what if he killed millions of people?