The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "bench" ...
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Judging the Judges
Investigation centered on complaints against Maryland's judges and how they are handled. WBAL-TV discovered that the process seems to be centered on keeping judges on the bench and most disciplinary actions secret.
Tags: Judges
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Missing from the Bench
WVUE tracked a local judge who was living hundreds of miles from her judicial bench. The series helped prompt a Federal Grand Jury investigation.
Tags: judge; judicial system; court; justice; elected official;
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Money Trails to the Federal Branch
At least two dozen of the 249 federal judges appointed in 2001 by George W. Bush have given money to Republicans while the judges were under consideration for a lifetime appointment on the bench. More than $44,000 was given by the 18 district court judges and the six appellate judges.
Tags: American Bar Association; campaign contribution; Deborah Cook; Bob Taft; John R. Adams; Tomas M. Hardiman; John E. Jones; George W. Bush; Republicans
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Conflict on the Bench
Evans examined two sitting federal judges, James H. Payne and Terrence Boyle, to determine their independence.Both were nominated by President Bush for higher court seats. Both have conflicts of interest on their bench: they each sat on cases that involved companies in which they owned stock. Judge Payne withdrew his nomination after the stories about him ran.
Tags: federal judge; stock; companies; bench; Boyle; Payne; Bush; Circuit Court of Appeals;
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The Downfall of Judge Randy Michel
When Brazos County Juvenile Board member Judge Randy Michel appointed attorney Patricia Bonilla Harrison over six other candidates to be a part-time juvenile judge, rumors began to swirl that Harrison was unfit for the position. The Eagle investigated, substantiating the rumors that Harrison was not only underqualified, but also had a "history of alcohol-related arrests." As the process of making open records requests went on, Harrison turned down the post amid rumors that she was having an affair with one of the judges, and the District Attorney's office began its own investigation of the situation. Eventually, Michel "was expelled from his bench" and the state's open records law was strengthened.
Tags: Judges; nepotism; illicit appointments; open records laws
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Broken Bench
This series described the long record of injustices in New York's town and village courts that dates from the Colonial era. These courts are not financed by the state; because all their funding comes from towns and villages, they are starved for resources. The lack of state supervision paved the way for racism, favoritism and sexism to thrive in the courts.
Tags: courts, justice, local government, state government, crime, corruption; Colonial law
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The Governor and His Judges
The Rio Grande Sun investigated the puzzling appointment of their new county judge: Arizona Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Thomas Rodella to the bench despite reports that Rodella had fixed tickets for people during his time as a state police officer in order to get votes and backing for his wife's bid for state office. After the Sun published their expose, the judge was forced to resign.
Tags: politics; state government; Arizona State Police; election campaigns; judicial appointments
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Judges get a 'good gig' in KC Municipal Court
In this report, Star reporters unravel the relaxed working hours of Kansas City municipality judges by investigating the judges' entries and exits from the city garage where the judges park. They find out that on an average these judges work less than 30 hours a week. From the questionnaire, "the judges do little legal research or issue written opinions; most of their job is done from the bench". The report also shows how the judges arrive late at work and leave early by 3 p.m. And furthermore, for taking off early on Friday's and 45 days off each year, these judges are paid nearly $119,000 a year- higher than any Missouri judge except those on the State Supreme Court.
Tags: Presiding Judge John B. Williams; Judge Marcia Walsh; Judge Joseph Locascio; National Center for State Courts
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Queens County judgeships: No Republicans need apply
This series looked at the election process for state and city judges in Queens. After two months of investigation, the reporters found that the Queens County Democratic Organization and its chairman, are in firm control of who makes it to the bench in the borough's state and city courts. The Democrats have an unbroken record of winning judicial elections, going back to at least 1990. The investigation also found the chairman of the Queens County Democratic Organization, also a lawyer, can gain lucrative appointments and contracts from their friends on the bench.
Tags: Queens County Democratic Organization; judicial elections; election process; state judges; city judges; bribery; Brooklyn judiciary; Brooklyn Democratic party; election records; campaign finance; Queens County Bar Association; Association of the Bar of the City of New York; Queens County; Queens State Supreme Court; Office of Court Administration; New York City Civil Court; Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections; judgeship; Queens Treatment Court; Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Queens County Republican Party; Commission on Judicial Conduct
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Judge criticized for giving cases to one lawyer; Bench practice of appointing poses conflict
The story reveals how Cuyahoga county's judges have become heavily dependent on campaign contributions from the hundreds of lawyers assigned to represent the poor- and who share millions of dollars in tax refund fees for doing it. The Dealer also details one particular story of a judge who diverted scores of cases over the past three years and authorized more than $1,000 in questionable fees to a single lawyer.
Tags: criminar arraignment; indigent-fee assignments; Richard Agopian; Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold; Cuyahoga County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association