Municipal Court Terry Malone And The Lawyers Of Dodge City Are Extorting The Citizens

My girlfreind went to court the other day her court appointed lawyer
Told her that if she would pay $333 that they would drop the case she told them she was not guilty she was not paying them any thing that she want a trial they then tell her you know you can go back to jail which I believe to be a threat! It also sounds like extortion .
I believe they know the case is bulls.it

Better watch out. They will take the money and sentence her to a "suspended jail time sentence" like so many others down at city "court".

Drive by city court on payday (friday) and you will see a line of people paying for their fines. The City of Dodge City has what I call a QVC 'easy payment plan' for the fines the people are charged with.

City court is a big money maker for the city as fines account for around 9% of the general fund.

Dodge City Court Appointed Attorneys are nothing more than patsies for the City. They always plead everything out, talk the client into pleading guilty and paying the fine. Then you end up getting a bill from them as well. She'd be better off going to the Library, doing some research and reperesent herself.

I have to disagree. I have seen court appointed lawyer Linda Eckleman take many cases to court and winning them.

One example, and I might add a good one, however Linda is not the only court appointed Attorney. And that Brock or whatever his name is, couldn't pour piss out of a boot.

Yes its all about the money. I have posted about this before just follow my posts. the judge is from the County Attorneys office thats how Malone has got around the checks and balances. Sit in the courtroom Tuesday or Thursday and and add up how many Thousands of dollars they make an hour. Also note how many people are given suspended jailtime for the most minor infractions. There is no wonder Judge DOLL did not stick around to be a part of such a scam.
You do have the right to a trial at the District Court as it is a court of record. I think Mark Cowell is a good person and a good attorney if you can get him.
I might elaborate how in bed some of the attorneys are with the City Court. A person i know was appointed Arkell and agreed to a diversion. Arkel never made time to council his client nor did he attend the meeting with the City attorney. The person did it all on there own. Once the diversion was started the person QUICKLY paid all the fees the court required and A small bill they received from Arkell.
The person was released from the diversion without incident six monthes later as agreed.
Arkell then submitted a additional bill for around $500.00 just because he was appointed, to the court causing his client to be in violation of the diversion agreement "after the fact" The client had never received the bill and paid it quickly but not before being held in violation of the diversion agreement.

WHY IN THE HECK WOULD ANYONE HIRE AN ATTORNEY WHO IS SO INCOMPENTENT OR LOW, THAT HE WOULD NO CALL NO SHOW WHEN NEEDED BY THE CLIENT THEN CREATE A SITUATION THAT WOULD CAUSE HIS CLIENT TO VIOLATE THERE DIVERSION?

Check out your court appointed attorney if you get one and I would scrape up the money if you have to to hire an attorney that will give you a fair trial in DISTRICT COURT.

Arkell is a Mormon from what I understand. Just thought his church brethren ought to know the shady tactics this attorney uses while under the auspices of God. Not very Christian if you ask me by screwing over his own clients.

Despite what Mormons are telling everyone these days, they are not Christians. I have done extensive study into that religion. Brigham Young preached that people lived on the moon.

I wonder if there is a way to report this sort of unethical conduct by less than honorable attorneys? Is there any kind of grievance procedure for attorneys that epically fail as described by Williamalexxx?

http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html perhaps?

http://www.attorneybusters.com/ maybe this little gem

c'mon Commander, you're king of Google, I found these in a matter of seconds!!!

Thanks for the links Choo. I am not an expert in victim's rights against unscrupulous attorneys so any information is always appreciated.

The victim of the crime would probably have to come forward and make the claim however. Monday morning quarterbackers probably cannot do it for them.

Everyone that has internet access is an expert these days. Google is your friend, your spy, and your enemy.

I was playing doctor the other day, and realized that excess phlegm at the back of my throat when I wake up, could be anything from too much yeast in the diet, to cancer, so I'm pretty sure hocking up a loogie = Death. Like more of my posts, so I can die happy and accepted.

http://www.kscourts.org/pdf/complaintform.pdf

Coffee, Nice find!

I agree this is the form to use.

Hopefully Williamalexxx can get this important information to the begrieved party he references. Dodge City does not need any more crooked lawyers running around maliciously screwing up peoples lives. Perhaps this procedure can put a stop to some of this unethical behavior and put Dodge lawyers on notice that if they screw with their trusting clients, then there will be consequences.

As an afterthought, I wanted to add that most often, the people in need of a court appointed attorney are those without the means to hire one outright. These people depend upon this right. However, often times, it seems the court appointed attorney has this 'don't give a damn' attitude towards their client. Their attitude may even be that since the client has really no choice in the matter, then therefore, they are at the mercy to whatever whim the attorney wishes.

Such as the case Williamalexxx points out. Attorneys are supposed to be held to a high ethical standard. When they fall below this bar, there certainly needs to be consequences because it is their client's lives the swing in the balance; not theirs.

It is just disgusting. Rights like being appointed an attorney were hard fought before it was won. To see this accomplishment soiled with unethical attorney's tarnishes the entire American criminal justice system. It is an eyesore that needs to be blotted out.

The current Municipal Court Judge is a FORMER county attorney, he has been in private practice for a few years now. And fyi: Daniel Arkell has filed to run for County Attorney...

EVERYONE knows Dodge City does dirty pool in the legal system...My Criminal Justice teachers with University of Phoenix have discussed it, it is well known everywhere...fact is nobody cares. do what I did MOVE, you will feel better off believe me.

You going to pay the difference in my salary and contribute to my pension fund if I move?

I know of a similar situation with Daniel Arkell and the Clark County Court. a diversion was entered in Sept 07 and the person paid the $328 in fees etc that were ordered as part of the diversion. In July 08 this person received a letter from the county atty stating that the diversion would be terminated as there remained a balance owed of $541.58. The person contacted the clerk and found this was for atty fees.

I cannot remember the statute but one was found stating that attorney fees had to be part of the agreement or asked for and ordered at the time of the hearing. In this case it had not.
He wrote a letter to the county stating he had paid the $328 ordered per the agreement and askng for verification of this new amount. He also enclosed a copy of the diversion and a copy of the check for $328 showing it cleard the bank.

A few weeks later a response letter from the county attorney came back that the diversion agreement was completed and there was a zero balance owed.

i suggest your friend locate a copy of their diversion and all documentation, and if that money was not part of the diversion, to contact an atty. If i find the statute I will post it.

Arkell obviously has no business being County Attorney if he cannot be honest in with his own practice. Can you imagine the illegal and unethical problems what would arise from such an attorney if he had the powers of the state behind him? It would be disastrous. He cannot be allowed to have Malone's seat.