Ore. judge sanctioned for telling off serial child molester
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - A Jackson County judge has been sanctioned by the Oregon Supreme Court for excoriating a serial child molester at his sentencing, including telling the man that he will "rot in prison."
Judge Tim Barnack told Richard L. Taylor on Jan. 21 that community members wondered why he wasn't hanging from a tree, The Medford Mail Tribune reported.
"You are a bad person," Barnack said at the sentencing, and called Taylor, "a piece of s---."
The Supreme Court ruled that Barnack's comments and behavior violated the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct.
Taylor, 60, said at the sentencing that he had "nothing to say."
The court's ruling states Barnack acknowledges he lost control of his emotions when Taylor declined to speak at the sentencing, and that he was traumatized from viewing videos of the abuse. He acknowledges his comments were inappropriate, it says.
"After sentencing, Judge Barnack sent an email to the other Jackson County Judges apologizing for his remarks at the sentencing of Taylor," the three-page ruling said.
"I don't think you have a soul," Barnack said at the sentencing. "We are going to make sure you never get out."
Barnack said he regrets his comments and accepts the censure. It carries no fines or fees, nor does it limit his duties as a judge.
"I've learned from this experience. And I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Jackson County," Barnack said.
In October 2011, Taylor was found guilty of 21 counts related to child sex abuse and was sentenced to life on each count.
Taylor previously served a short prison term after pleading guilty to lesser charges in the same case, but Barnack said significant new evidence made it possible to reopen the case.
Taylor also had a past conviction for sexual abuse in California, prosecutors said in asking for a life sentence.
Judge Tim Barnack told Richard L. Taylor on Jan. 21 that community members wondered why he wasn't hanging from a tree, The Medford Mail Tribune reported.
"You are a bad person," Barnack said at the sentencing, and called Taylor, "a piece of s---."
The Supreme Court ruled that Barnack's comments and behavior violated the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct.
Taylor, 60, said at the sentencing that he had "nothing to say."
The court's ruling states Barnack acknowledges he lost control of his emotions when Taylor declined to speak at the sentencing, and that he was traumatized from viewing videos of the abuse. He acknowledges his comments were inappropriate, it says.
"After sentencing, Judge Barnack sent an email to the other Jackson County Judges apologizing for his remarks at the sentencing of Taylor," the three-page ruling said.
"I don't think you have a soul," Barnack said at the sentencing. "We are going to make sure you never get out."
Barnack said he regrets his comments and accepts the censure. It carries no fines or fees, nor does it limit his duties as a judge.
"I've learned from this experience. And I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Jackson County," Barnack said.
In October 2011, Taylor was found guilty of 21 counts related to child sex abuse and was sentenced to life on each count.
Taylor previously served a short prison term after pleading guilty to lesser charges in the same case, but Barnack said significant new evidence made it possible to reopen the case.
Taylor also had a past conviction for sexual abuse in California, prosecutors said in asking for a life sentence.
I am impressed more by the fact this judge got so emotional about this...honestly I am surprised we do not hear more about this happening as seriously these Judges see the worst of the WORST the world has to offer... I don't envy them having to keep their anger contained...worst thing here would be if the lawyer now comes back and gets a mistrial on the grounds this mans outburst might make the judges judgment look bad and get a new trial because it!
How dare he bad mouth a criminal like that ! The criminal will now have to enter the prison world feeling downcast,depressed,and an outcast.
He's my kind of judge. Well said your honor! Maybe not technically what he should have said, but I applaud the man for his honesty with that dirt bag.Â
The judge has my support. We need more like him.
sentenced to life on 21 counts....there should be no such thing!! if given more then one life sentence, why arent they executed...Im tired of hearing about the treatment of criminals and making sure theyre treated humanley...they threw that rite out the door as soon as they commited the crime...
I am amazed that we don't hear more stories like this. These judges are exposed to an endless display of societies worst. Maybe it is time for him to take a long vacation to clear his mind of the filth he must listen to and see daily.Â
Yeah... shame on him for telling the truth.
I'm glad the judge isn't getting into any "real" trouble considering he just said what everyone was thinking. I feel for the judge and everyone else who had to sit through the video evidence of this POS's crimes.
Yes, yes, I understand that a judge should remain impartial, but when one is exposed to the absolute bottom of the cesspool, It has to be VERY hard to do so. I for one, do not blame him.
The judge said what everyone else wanted to say, and for once he put the politics aside that usually accompanies elected or government appointed positions and said what was true and what he felt. Its about damn time.
Justice is supposed to serve a purpose. Why isn't this piece of s not hanging from a tree?
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According to this article, it's all on video tape.
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The bastard should hang and so should his entire defense counsel. The point of the defense is not to make the guilty go free as a "virtue" to the purpose of a defense lawyer but to ascertain guilt or innocence and fairness.
Clearly what the Judge saw and heard were beyond his limits of self control. And I don't blame him one bit. I'm sure it was horrific.
Although I personally agree with what the judge had to say and his opinion, he was wrong to say it. There are a number of reasons, but the first would be that now the lawyers for the molester have an argument about getting the case retried (maybe due to some type of prejudice or otherwise, who knows, Im not a lawyer).
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The judge REALLY wants the guy to rot in prison right?? So then just sentence him and be done with it. Don't give his lawyers a chance to allow him to appeal and get out on a technicality because you opened your big mouth and shouted your opinion because you were mad.
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You actually think this criminal cares about what the judge says? Now his lawyers are laughing all the way to the appeals court...
I am the Public. I ASKED him to speak for ME. So, I spoke. Thank you, decent Honorable Judge.Â
The lawyers really get upset when bust the chops of a pervert because all lawyers are perverts.
This was the appropriate ruling. Judges by design have no legal right or precedent to be sharing their opinions or feelings on any issue unless it has some legal standing. A judges position is also not to be telling anybody how the PUBLIC feels. This is OUR JOB as the public to do so. Want to yell at the criminal as he walks out of the court room? Please feel free to do so. Our legal system has a set of rules,. Those rules must be enforced at ALL times no matter what the circumstance, or our system becomes even more corrupt than it is now. I'm equally stunned that nobody even bothered to mention that the legal system sanctioned one of their own for breaking protocol. That is what deserves a HI Five.
i like this judge.
Your Honor, I'm sure the victim's family felt just the tiniest bit better over the extreme horror over the agony of being dragged through court again when they were able to hear someone in authority over this cretin dress him down as you did. It may not have legally been the right thing to do, but it sure as heck had been the MORAL thing to do! Sadly these court hearing re-victimize the families over and over again so many times. It's so cut and dry, with no one being outraged over what the accused has done except for themselves.
I forgive the judge.
 @Komo Dragon Me too. Sometimes even people that aren't allowed to show emotion have to once in a while.
About time someone with power said and did something to get this scum put away for good. I wish I was in the court room. I would of stood and applauded him. We need more judges like him!
What, does he think the judge violated his right to privacy, that the world didn't already know he's a pathetic waste of oxygen and steaming POS with no soul?
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With no fine to help you in paying, Judge, that frees up money in the budget to buy you a beer and a steak dinner. And it would be an honor to do so, Your Honor.
Keep your head up and keep fighting the good fight; you're much appreciated by the community you serve!
Too bad this wasn't the "Old West".....Barnack guy would have been a "Hangin Judge" and Taylor would have been rightfully swinging from a tree. Nice to see an actual judge with a sense of right and wrong these days, who's not afraid to voice his opinion, rather than those politically motivated, lenient idiots that keep releasing criminals among us.
Reality bites.
Can't say I have a problem with what he said. Â Truth hurts.
OKAY, so profanity has no place in the courtroom...but someone had to tell the creep how the public feels....
I love that he got "sanctioned" yet there was no fine, fee, or loss of duty-Â They HAD to do something to make the creeps lawyer happy so they did as little as possible (and probably all while telling the Judge what a great job he had done).Â
Yes, his comments were inappropriate for somebody in his position, but I still want to give that judge a high-five!
 @Central I don't think his comments were inappropriate. He is a judge and he judged that creep correctly, just saying.
He basically said what everyone in the community wanted to say. And frankly, that guy SHOULD be hanging from a tree. There is no point to keeping him alive, his existence is only to harm or burden.
You were right on Judge!Â