Things that make you go hmmm
This cracked me up! To think they've come up with an official disorder for what on the street we simply call an "asshole." Watch in the next three months as 3 out of 4 lawyers and judges are diagnosed with "extreme narcisism."
BY JON CRAIG JCRAIG@ENQUIRER.COM
COLUMBUS – Mason Municipal Court Judge George M. Parker should lose his law license for at least a year because of misconduct, the Ohio Supreme Court’s disciplinary counsel recommended Monday.
But Parker’s attorney, George D. Jonson of Cincinnati, said a public reprimand is punishment enough because the judge is getting treatment for a personality disorder that helped cause his misconduct.
According to Jonson, Mason psychologist M. Douglas Reed agreed with a state-appointed psychiatrist that Parker suffers from a narcissistic personality disorder, a pattern of self-centered or egotistical behavior that flares up under stress.
The state’s psychiatric expert, Dr. Michael Beech of Bexley, testified Monday that Parker displayed symptoms of a disorder for which few people seek treatment. Narcissistic personality disorder can cause distress and an inability to function at work or in relationships, Beech said. “Seeking out help in and of itself is a favorable sign,” he said.
Earlier Monday, Parker testified he has seen two psychologists since last summer to treat his problem.It marked the third and final day of hearings before a three-judge panel of the state Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline. The panel will recommend action to the board, which can range from dismissal of the seven-count complaint against Parker, to permanent suspension of his law license.
Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Joseph M. Caligiuri recommended an 18-month suspension of Parker’s law license with six months stayed. He said Parker is “simply just not content being a neutral, detached judge.”Jonson said the most Parker should face is a six-month suspension, and that he be allowed to continue practicing law if he meets counseling requirements. “The judge has admitted to many things,” Jonson said, adding Parker is “painfully aware of the baggage he brought to the bench and he’s getting treatment.”When he took the stand Monday, Parker admitted he used to talk too much and offer too much advice to defendants. He admitted to most of the misconduct outlined in the complaint. “Judges are human. I’m human,” Parker testified.
Parker said he sought counseling in March 2006 primarily because “the people who knew me well were concerned I wasn’t reacting well to the way that I was portrayed publicly.”In the complaint filed in October 2005, Parker was accused of:
-- Asking to join police in executing a search warrant that turned up stolen signs and marijuana. Parker later sentenced the accused to a day in jail.
-- Calling 911 to ask Mason police to transport a prisoner from the Warren County jail.
-- Pressuring a Mason police officer to agree to reduce charges in a domestic violence case.
-- Jailing the mother of a drug addict who interrupted him in court.
-- Calling an alleged drug dealer, on a speaker phone from his courtroom, to confront him.
Jonson submitted 13 letters of support on Parker’s behalf, including several from court employees.The Mason Municipal Court serves more than 50,000 residents in Mason and Deerfield Township.Parker defeated three fellow Republicans in the May 2001 primary and ran unopposed in the November 2001 election. His term ends in December. Parker declined to say whether he will run for re-election later this year.
BY JON CRAIG JCRAIG@ENQUIRER.COM
COLUMBUS – Mason Municipal Court Judge George M. Parker should lose his law license for at least a year because of misconduct, the Ohio Supreme Court’s disciplinary counsel recommended Monday.
But Parker’s attorney, George D. Jonson of Cincinnati, said a public reprimand is punishment enough because the judge is getting treatment for a personality disorder that helped cause his misconduct.
According to Jonson, Mason psychologist M. Douglas Reed agreed with a state-appointed psychiatrist that Parker suffers from a narcissistic personality disorder, a pattern of self-centered or egotistical behavior that flares up under stress.
The state’s psychiatric expert, Dr. Michael Beech of Bexley, testified Monday that Parker displayed symptoms of a disorder for which few people seek treatment. Narcissistic personality disorder can cause distress and an inability to function at work or in relationships, Beech said. “Seeking out help in and of itself is a favorable sign,” he said.
Earlier Monday, Parker testified he has seen two psychologists since last summer to treat his problem.It marked the third and final day of hearings before a three-judge panel of the state Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline. The panel will recommend action to the board, which can range from dismissal of the seven-count complaint against Parker, to permanent suspension of his law license.
Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Joseph M. Caligiuri recommended an 18-month suspension of Parker’s law license with six months stayed. He said Parker is “simply just not content being a neutral, detached judge.”Jonson said the most Parker should face is a six-month suspension, and that he be allowed to continue practicing law if he meets counseling requirements. “The judge has admitted to many things,” Jonson said, adding Parker is “painfully aware of the baggage he brought to the bench and he’s getting treatment.”When he took the stand Monday, Parker admitted he used to talk too much and offer too much advice to defendants. He admitted to most of the misconduct outlined in the complaint. “Judges are human. I’m human,” Parker testified.
Parker said he sought counseling in March 2006 primarily because “the people who knew me well were concerned I wasn’t reacting well to the way that I was portrayed publicly.”In the complaint filed in October 2005, Parker was accused of:
-- Asking to join police in executing a search warrant that turned up stolen signs and marijuana. Parker later sentenced the accused to a day in jail.
-- Calling 911 to ask Mason police to transport a prisoner from the Warren County jail.
-- Pressuring a Mason police officer to agree to reduce charges in a domestic violence case.
-- Jailing the mother of a drug addict who interrupted him in court.
-- Calling an alleged drug dealer, on a speaker phone from his courtroom, to confront him.
Jonson submitted 13 letters of support on Parker’s behalf, including several from court employees.The Mason Municipal Court serves more than 50,000 residents in Mason and Deerfield Township.Parker defeated three fellow Republicans in the May 2001 primary and ran unopposed in the November 2001 election. His term ends in December. Parker declined to say whether he will run for re-election later this year.
posted by Liz at 10:33 PM
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