Glynn, Camden Drug Court judge to be featured on ‘This American Life
1:20 pm, March 24th, 2011
Georgia’s alternative, or accountability, court programs have generated a lot of buzz recently as Gov. Nathan Deal, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein and lawmakers from both parties are pushing for reforms of the criminal justice system while promoting those court programs as ways to curb recidivism, relieve overcrowded prisons and jails and save taxpayer money.
And now, they have captured national media attention.
National Public Radio affiliates will air an episode of This American Life featuring Judge Amanda Williams, director of the Drug Court in Glynn and Camden counties, in an upcoming broadcast.
Each of the national radio show’s episodes, hosted by executive producer Ira Glass, revolves around a theme. The episode featuring Williams is titled “Very Tough Love.”
According to This American Life’s website, the episode will focus “a drug court program that we believe is run differently from every other drug court in the country, doing some things that are contrary to the very philosophy of drug court. The result? People with offenses that would get minimal or no sentences elsewhere sometimes end up in the system five to ten years.”
The Superior Court of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit started the Drug Court in 1998 with grant money and Williams at the helm. Visit the Glynn/Camden counties Drug Court website for more information.
WABE 90.1 FM will broadcast the episode on Sunday, March 27, at 7 p.m. The free MP3 download of the episode will be available on This American Life’s website at the same time.
Contributor: Kathleen Baydala Joyner in Drug Courts | subscribe to rss | 
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March 25th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
“a drug court program that we believe is run differently from every other drug court in the country, doing some things that are contrary to the very philosophy of drug court. The result? People with offenses that would get minimal or no sentences elsewhere sometimes end up in the system five to ten years.”
WOW! We, in this area, have heard stuff like this sooooo many times! Go ‘out on a limb’ & dig a little deeper and you will find LOTS more.
Thanks for uncovering the corruption!
Blessings
March 25th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
I just heard this piece. i could not believe my ears. i am going to write and call everyone i can think of (ACLU, Justice Dept, my senator..).. to have that Judge stopped and have a review of all the drug courts all across the country.
These judges have way too much power.
March 25th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Just heard the show. This is embarrassing, Williams should resign and the legal system overhauled to include oversite for out of control judges.
March 26th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Listing to this live right now in the North East and googled a bit and found this. This is unbelievable.
Amanda Williams should be disbarred.
This story highlights how ridiculous drug prosecutions have gotten in this country. I’m not saying drugs should be legal or anything, but this is now how we should treat those who are addicted to drugs. These people are not healthy and addiction is a mental illness.
This is incredibly sad. Williams needs to be stopped, and we need to rethink jailing addicts.
March 26th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I’ve just listened to the This American Life segment on Judge Williams and the Glynn County drug court. Thank you Ira Glass for exposing the decadent judicial corruption of this backwater program…hopefully Judge Williams will soon have to answer for her questionable practices.
March 26th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Having just heard the broadcast I am appalled at the abuse of power wielded by Judge Williams. This is certainly what gives southern courts their bad reputation. Judge Williams is abusing her power and ruining lives. All of Georgia should be ashamed.
Why not email her at her email (http://electjudgewilliams.com/email.html)?
You can also reach her at
Chief Judge Amanda F. Williams
Glynn County Courthouse, Box 202
701 H Street
Brunswick, GA 31520
Work Phone: 912-554-7364
March 26th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Gooooodbye Amanda! Old wrinkled bag
March 26th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
“Ira reports from Glynn County Georgia on Superior Court Judge Amanda Williams and how she runs the drug courts in Glynn, Camden and Wayne counties. We hear the story of Lindsey Dills, who forges two checks on her parents’ checking account when she’s 17, one for $40 and one for $60, and ends up in drug court for five and a half years, including 14 months behind bars, and then she serves another five years after that—six months of it in Arrendale State Prison, the other four and a half on probation. The average drug court program in the U.S. lasts 15 months.”
Judge Amanda Williams does not save Georgia tax payers any money by handing out hefty sentences for minimal offences.
March 26th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I am a former drug court public defender from the midwest. This is a complete travesty.
Judge Williams is a power-hungry, petty tyrant and needs to be removed from the bench.
March 26th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Wow, I just listened to this episode, and Williams sure sounds like she might have issues, personal issues, that she’s working out on the people who come before her. The voters maybe ought to retire her. Is she like those juvenile judges in Pennsylvania, who got a kickback for every kid they sentenced? How much does she make, and is her lifestyle and personal wealth consistent with those earnings?
March 26th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
I just heard the program. This has the makings of the best South-bashing movie since Cool Hand Luke.
Is this the most sadistic judge of the most sadistic county of the most sadistic state in the nation? (I hope so.) Texas has lately been stealing Georgia’s reputation for the most sadistic judicial system, but I’ve heard nothing like this from Texas. I’m glad to live in Pennsylvania (and far from Philadelphia), but I have a brother in central Georgia, and I also travel through coastal Georgia. I’ll advise everyone I know to do the same thing I will do – get gas and food before leaving South Carolina, stay under the speed limit, and don’t get out of the car until you hit the Florida line.
This can’t be pinned on one judge, either. Where is the county’s chief justice? Where is the judicial review committee? Where is the governor? Where is the local media? What is wrong with you people? Why should it take a bunch of Yankee NPR liberals to embarrass you before the whole country before you do something about this?
March 26th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Just listened to the report on NPR.
How can we get amanda “the battleaxe” williams charged with the gross miscarriage of justice that she is??? Nothing short of her spending the rest of her life in a solitary confinement cage would be actual justice. Speaking of “justice”-somthing aMANda williams knows nothing about, I will pray for God’s ultimate retribution to visit her swiftly and finally.
March 26th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
It’s apparent to me after listening to the “This American Life” episode dealing with Judge Amanda Williams’ drug court that she has done untold damage to the public’s confidence in the judiciary, in Glynn and Camden counties and beyond.
Judge Williams’ brutal, punitive treatment of those unfortunate people subjected to her arbitrary decisions, and her excursions so far beyond fundamental fairness in her judicial conduct leave me sickened and angry. She manipulates defendants into situations in which they are powerless and without advocates. This is an egregious perversion of the judicial system.
A first thought is why don’t defendants in drug cases substitute out Judge Williams? Under the situation described in TAL, it would seem the only ethical thing to do.
If there is organized opposition to Judge Williams dedicated to removing her from the bench, I would be happy to contribute.
March 26th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
I am listening to the abovementioned segment on This American Life as we speak. Unbelievable! I hope to dear God that Judge Williams is removed from office, tout de suite.
March 26th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Whoa – just listened to the piece on our local NPR station here. I don’t know a huge amount about jurisprudence and procedure (though probably more than most laypeople) but it sure seems to me that Judge Williams has a situation that reeks of potential for misuse of her (?) judicial powers. According to the coverage, the Drug Court system essentially provides no recourse for participants in the program – no appeal, no secondary review – nothing. The example given of a candidate who was sentenced to 3 days for having a bad (and dubious) drug test *and* 14 ADDITIONAL days for “questioning the judge”. Like I said earlier – Whoa.
Good thing is apparently this judge is elected – maybe some light under the blanket will get Judge Amanda’s constituency asking some questions – and she won’t be able to put them in jail for doing so, I don’t imagine.
March 26th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Just heard the story and sent this note to Judge Williams re-election campaign:
I just wanted Judge Williams to be aware that her name hit the airways on NPR today in a big way. I am not local, voting constituent, but I am a concerned US citizen. I was appalled to hear about Judge Williams’ record of grossly excessive sentences for Drug Court defendants. This woman is a megalomaniac, who appears to be power-drunk. She needs to be stopped from wrecking peoples lives. I will be writing to the Bar Association as well. Judge Williams, I believe there will be strong professional consequences for your ego, which has run amok.
March 26th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
A terrible misunderstanding of ends and means. It sounds like unlawful detention. Time for Judge Williams to experience justice from the other side of the bench.
March 26th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Obviously what we have is a failure to communicate
March 26th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Judge Amanda Williams needs to be disbarred, immediately. Her repeated abuses of power should be justification enough; not to mention the damage done to these people and their families.
March 26th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Appalling and simply, Un-American. She is operating outside the boundaries of the U.S. Constitution and it’s time someone called her on it. I pray that justice for her will be swift and exact.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
This is such an embarrassment to the state of Georgia. This woman obviously has nothing good going on and how the people of Glynn County have tolerated her this long makes me wonder just how deep the corruption really runs in those parts. She needs to go.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
For decades the belief that “liberal do-gooders” often do great harm has been widespread. Now we are finally seeing some exposition of the harm done by the conservative version. The pendulum does, eventually, swing back.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
I feel beyond fortunate not to be this judge’s “in recovery ” husband. That’s gotta be the toughest job in the world. Daily drug tests, anyone? I would love to hear his unfiltered comments on all this.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Wow. This is horrible and unfortunately probably more common than we think. I think Judge Williams life as it once was is over, thankfully. People such as her do not do well when challenged. I suspect that this show will go viral to some degree. She will likely for some period of time maintain her righteous stance and then be defeated in her next election or she will resign, either is fine. I find it interesting that her spouse has supposedly been sober 15 years. I would be interested in having Ira interview him, a recovering alcoholic, about what his lovely wife’s professional behavior means to him. Its small solace for all the people who have been victimized by the Judge but I suspect it’s safe to say her little world is about to thankfully change and her professional career is over. Kudos to NPR, This American Life and Ira Glass for shining light on this ghastly woman and equally important letting the voters of this small County know who they are electing. Good bye Judge Williams, good bye. May your retirement be long and please get into therapy, you need it.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Therapy can only be effective if the practitioner has confronted issues that if left unresolved would interrupt their ability to focus on the patient without transferring their own negative experiences onto the patient.
This judge although not a therapist is in a position to transfer her own unresolved issues onto the unfortunate participants on her case load. When listening to the program it appeared the inequity between the infractions and the judges choices to deal with them were just plain irrational, a obvious sign of impaired judgement. Judicial power in this environment must be controlled by staffing their choices within a therapeutic panel.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
We found our system on the Rule of Law. Judge William’ highly personal, highly arbitrary system is the antithesis of that approach. This American Life amply illustrates the harm of a moment-by-moment, emotional and arbitrary system of retribution (the only possible description for Judge Williams’ philosophy) on the life paths of addicts. It may be that she is working out some personal demons associated with her husband’s addiction. The essence of jurisprudence, though, is that it can never be personal. Her anger at her husband’s addiction translates into injustice. If this is what drug courts are about, then we should absolutely not have drug courts.
March 26th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
No Appeal? What are these? 278 Ga 377, 283 Ga.App. 213, 271 Ga.App. 213, 279 GaApp. 107.
Arrendale State Prison? Hmmm… Isn’t that where the 6 month drug treatment program (PSATC) is?
http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/Divisions/OPT/Reentry/RiskReduction/SubstanceAbuse.html
March 26th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Wow! This woman is unbelievable! How can she continue to be re-elected? Obviously she has a great PR team. Just shows how much the voting public really knows about candidates. I don’t for one moment believe that voters would re-elect this judge if they knew the whole story. She is obviously unwilling to do any type of review on how effective her program is and this just screams her lack of concern as to how effective her court program is for those who really need the help to beat addiction. This judge just adds to the general feeling of mistrust that is beginning to permeate our Justice system. To allow her to continue to dictate sentences like this is criminal. It’s also appalling to hear that attorneys in her jurisdiction are unwilling to go to bat against this woman. This is obviously a situation that if delved into deeper is sure to uncover bigger problems than just the drug-court issue.
March 26th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
It’s useful to appeal to the Judge’s sense of decency and humanity. The question is now more about the people of the counties. Why are they keeping her in office? She’s hopeless, but where is the humanity of the people in those counties?
March 26th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Wow. This judge is obviously WAY too close to the issues she is tasked to adjudicate. A judge should be fair and impartial. How is this possible when she is married to an alcoholic and has had to deal with the stress of that situation for a long time? She should have recused herself, or been recused, long ago. There is NO EXCUSE for this kind of abuse of authority. The people who elected her gave her that authority in good faith, believing that she would be a good steward of it. Well, as far as I can see, they have been duped–masterfully. Fascism should have died with Hitler, get this maniac off the bench IMMEDIATELY! Yesterday is too late, it needs to happen NOW.
I urge anyone who is as outraged about this as I am to write, call, e-mail, or otherwise contact “Judge” Williams’ office and let her know that America is watching and WE ARE PISSED!!!
Chief Judge Amanda F. Williams
Glynn County Courthouse, Box 202
701 H Street
Brunswick, GA 31520
Phone: 912-554-7364
-or-
http://www.aclu.org/contact-us
March 26th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
We must take immediate and united action as citizens to stop Judge Amanda Williams from the path of destruction of so many lives. Thank God for Ira Glass and his work to expose this corruption.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I grew up in Camden County from 1985 to 1997. I went to school at Camden County High School graduated in 97 and haven’t been back since. I heard some of the story on NPR today and I was shocked to hear of how this kind of negligence could be happening in my “hometown”. It seems as if things have taken a step back since I left. I’m not naive enough to believe completely what I hear but if even 10 percent of what was reported on the NPR episode is true, this is a SHAME to the American Justice system. I am glad that I left Camden County. God help you all. I’d like to hear from some Camden natives on the issue, what the hell is going on down there. autocannon@hotmail.com
March 26th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
I am a therapist who has had the great privilege of working with people with major mental health issues for just eleven years. If in fact, even some of this piece from This American Life is true, then it appears that once again only when a certain socio-economic class struggles with addiction is justice potentially served. It sounds like these families did not have the means to fight this Amanda Williams very poor behavior which have resulted in egregious and illegal behaviors. When one deal with issues of addiction, in my estimation, there are ALWAYS primary mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. A person rarely chooses to abuse drugs or alcohol if they are pursuing a happy and satisfying life. The intent behind drug court is to offer a level of compassion that is often lacking in a punitive system. How can this Amanda lay her head down at night and feel she had done something meaningful. She purported that her drug court is something she is most proud of on her re-election website. Amanda, please consider compassion and remember that solitary confinement for anyone can lead to acute post traumatic stress. Please someone in this judges area of Georgia, please do something to make this stop!
March 26th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Now that you have heard how she handles drug court, can you say, “tip of the iceberg?” Ira Glass please contact me when you want to hear horror stories of how she has handled my civil case and I’m quite sure you would be able to find hundreds of cases both civil and criminal ( I can lead you to some) that show how power mad and corrupt this crazy “judge” is. God bless you for this show, I only wish it could have come out before her re-election.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
I was driving in the car today and was physically sickened by the wack-torture antics of Judge Amanda Williams, who is definitely way to heady from her own corrupt power. I wonder why Georgia taxpayers don’t care she is wasting their taxdollers on over-punishing innocent people. She makes my skin crawl. I will be writing to all the pwoers that be to get her out of her high bench.
March 26th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Nothing short of her immediate removal and disbarment, as well as the re-examination of the cases of each and every poor soul that went before this reckless woman will do. I for one will remain on this until this country can be free of at least this one sick individual that has absolutely no place being in any position of authority. At least her victims can now take some very small solace in knowing that their suffering has helped expose this insanity. May you, Judge Amanda Williams, be so lucky to become ill, addicted to narcotics, steal 100 dollars and spend 10 long years suffering under the cruelty of another such as yourself. Just shameful. Thank you, NPR.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Why is this creature not behind bars herself.
I’m donating money to have her investigated, or arrested.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
I set here trying to create a coherent sentence through my outrage at this injustice and the people like judge Amanda Williams who have all of this power and no understanding of the concept of justice.
What in our society produces an Amanda Williams?
Ira Glass please keep up the excellent work!
March 26th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Gee. I hear the interesting words that she uses the STANDARD procedures for drug courts across the county.
This is sickening.
I hope this judge gets disbarred, and sent to jail for her dis-service to these people.
To the Atlanta Lawyers :
It’s time to apply some pressure to this judge to get her out of your legal system.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
PS after hearing the last 10 minutes, about the person who failed the first (and passed the second and third )drug tests I think the judge should be given a drug test, and then have the test ‘accidentally’ altered to show this was ‘positive’.
AND I think that should go and spend about 3.5 years in solitary.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
I heard the NPR report on Thie American Life. There appears to be basic constitutional issues in play with this womans performance on the bench. This just gives me the shivvers. Totally outlandish. Someone must have some oversight of this womans ego.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
This show made me want to physically crawl into my car radio and scream at that judge! I can’t wait until the audio is posted, so I can share with folks. This is America? How can we tell other countries what to do when we are doing this? As one of the writers above said, I was physically sickened by the thought of someone in solitary confinement, running out of her psychiatric drugs, with no representation at all.
When you sign up for drug court, you know that even a small violation will bring punishment–that’s part of the deal you make for getting a second chance and avoiding prison. But not “indefinite solitary confinement” with no representation and no contact with the outside world. That’s cruel and unusual punishment.
Drug courts and mental health courts CAN work, though. I hope this doesn’t set them back. Still, this is excellent investigative reporting that needs to be done again, and again, and again.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:42 am
Disbarment, removal from office, immediate resignation, and the like are all well and good, but it sounds like this fine judge needs to be investigated, indicted, and probably jailed for a very long time. An excellent piece of investigative journalism. Super job by Ira Glass and supporting cast.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:59 am
Rock on, Ira.This important, timely, and thought-provoking expose transcends your usual excellent work. I’m shocked that any drug court judge has extra-constitutional powers, and Judge Williams’ behavior illustrates the worst consequences of unlimited power.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:22 am
If you google Judge Williams name, you’ll find other cases where she has abused her power.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Pure evil.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Stephen, you can e-mail Ira Glass at web@thislife.org — please do so.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Judge Amanda Williams should not only be disbarred, but should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law for these abuses. She should definitely provide restitution to her victims.
Thank you This American Life, Ira and team. THIS is what NPR is about.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
It’s been a day since I heard this episode and I can’t get it out of my mind. We need to find away to create enough pressure to have this investigated further. It truly sickens me. She going against everything that drug court was established for.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
As a resident of Glynn County, I am extremely grateful to Mr. Glass for his in-depth efforts which, for the first time, have exposed our dirty little secret. I only wish that this had come out before her reelection last November! There was a major effort to unseat her then. Unfortunately, there is a powerful “machine” lurking in our county – a secret society, if you will, and almost all attempts to foil their agenda fail. Money pours into the support of any of their candidates or programs, and we all know what enough money can buy! We also know the value of having a Superior Court judge locked in step with whatever plan the machine promotes. Only powers outside this county will be able to unseat her and rid our local judicial system of this cruel and miserable person. A lengthy jail sentence would bring justice for all those she has harmed. It would also probably be a blessing to her poor lawyer-husband and lawyer-son. (Getting the picture now?) And, in case anyone wonders, Glynn County’s Grand Jury is a joke.
March 27th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
This story makes me wonder: Has anyone examined this judge’s campaign finance reports to gauge whether companies (and their employees) who operate half-way houses and other companies who benefit from the “system” donated to the judge’s campaign?
March 27th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Thanks Ira for shedding light! This story demonstrates why freedom of the press is so critical to our liberty and a free society.
The judiciary wields extreme power over & needs to be constantly held to the highest standards of conduct. Be wary of those spending their personal fortunes seeking judicial office. Consider judicial election reforms (the Minn. Plan or the Missouri Plan).
Contact the ABA at ABA.com, Georgia Bar at GABAR.ORG, the Southern Poverty Law Center at splcenter.org or the ACLU at aclu.org to report judicial abuse. Get involved locally!
March 27th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
It is tough to listen to the program on Judge Williams without genuine anger setting in. It is easy to visualize one’s own reaction to this type of treatment. Glass has a pretty good track record on trying to fairly set out the facts so I don’t have any trouble accepting the main thrush of the program. I would gladly contribute to a program to remove the judge. What really bugs me is that with her length of time on the bench she can probably retire with pension.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
“Disbarred?” You think it will end there? No way. When this s#itstorm hits, it will be HUGE and in the end this sadist will end up where she so richly belongs, in prison. My guess is she won’t be alive there long though. Here comes the karma.
March 27th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Ira Glass’ recent program on Judge Williams is not within his usual venue. He generally features personal stories more related to the quirkiness of American life. He did an outstanding job in researching this story, and hopefully we’ll see more such efforts by Ira along with Amanda Williams being removed from the bench. What a travesty of justice this woman represents.
March 27th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Just heard the story….then, as many, found this place for comment. I would hope there is someone, somewhere, in GA, or in the national government, who can step in and suspend Judge Williams in the next week. I am sure enough lawyers heard this–IN Ga & elsewhere, that some investigation will be launched immediately. I have to wonder how she’s been able to remain safe herself all this time. This type of abuse of power does nothing–even in this modern time–but reinforce stereotypes of the South–Boss Hogg, Sheriff Rosco–but without the comedy or the car. And to think that people there have elected & re-elected her. This is a place I’ll avoid. I”m checking my map now!
March 27th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
After hearing the This American Life program about Judge Williams, is there any doubt at all that NPR needs to stay on the air and deserves what ever funding, public or private, the network needs to survive?
The fact that this deviant judge is walking around is a testament to the civility and rule of law that is still the bedrock of this country. We have a marvelous system of checks and balances that will take care of this flawed judge. Thanks you Ira Glass for giving the system a shove.
March 27th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
I also feel upset about the story of Judge Williams and felt that I must do something to help get her removed. I just wrote an email to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/enforce/drugcourt.html) stating that I am very concerned about Judge Williams’ performance. I’m not sure it will make a difference but I feel we should all try what we can to get her removed from the judicial system. I think I’ll also write to her office directly. If anyone knows any other ways to help get her removed, I’d love to hear them and help out how I can. Here’s what I wrote to the Office of Drug Control:
Dear Office of National Drug Court,
I wanted to let you know that what you do is a wonderful thing. This must be a very difficult job but your organization is really making a difference in the lives of so many people. I wanted to bring up a concern that I have recently become aware of by Ira Glass from This American Life. He gave an in-depth account with strong reporting about a particular Drug Court in Glynn and Camden Counties of Georgia. I am very concerned about the job that the Judge Amanda Williams is doing. I believe that she is creating a very bad name for your great organization and I want to make sure you know that many of us are very unhappy with her performance as a fair and honest judge. I live in Seattle so I am not one of her constituents but I feel strongly that action should be taken in the name of the American judicial system.
March 27th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
This is very upsetting and difficult to comprehend. This judge needs to be reigned in. She is not helping out the people who need a hand the most. She needs a dose of her own medicine.
March 27th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Yes this is not acceptable
March 27th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
This was a wonderful piece of investigative journalism. I found that I reacted most to the indeterminate detentions. No one denied that such a sentence was executed. For a while I thought I must be leaping to conclusions, and that the real situation could not possibly be so bad. If it proves to be true, it raises serious questions about mechanisms for correction of problems in our judicial system. How could this happen in the USA and how could it happen so many times?
The judge should be prosecuted by the feds for what are clearly civil rights violations. Other members of the local judiciary and members of the police force who executed such sentences should themselves be tried for similar rights violations.
This situation is not very different from what was taking place in Egypt under Mubarak. Thanks, Ira, for an important piece of investigative journalism.
March 27th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Thanks Tom for the link, but something I must add – a creature like Judge Amanda Williams is not created in a void, the “fearful lawyers” I honestly don’t think are fearful at all, its just standard operating practice in Brunswick and they all work with her and close ranks when she is threatened. We also have a local newspaper here that has never reported anything negative about her. Ira speaks in his broadcast of how he was stonewalled by the local sheriff dept. It takes a villiage to create the corruption that is Brunswick Ga.
March 27th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Since money is apparently what gets things done in this county, we sent a letter to the Glynn County chamber of commerce boycotting the area. Feel free to cut and paste:
To Whom It May Concern,
After listening to a report on This American Life about the horrific problems with Superior Court Judge Amanda Williams’ drug court, my family and I have decided we will no longer travel to Glynn county and the surrounding area. Having vacationed there, we know that it is a beautiful area, but this report shows there is also a terrifying lack of justice–and abuse of court power–there. We hope the next stories we hear about the area are that the drug court has been reformed and that Judge Williams’ powers have been reigned in. We would love to return should this happen.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
I could not believe the story. I immediately wrote the President Obama and all my US House and Senate reps. I hope everyone responding does the same. We need to stop this injustice.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Judge Williams should be investigated, tried and imprisoned. She’s the kind of barbaric, tyrannical psychopath that you would expect to find in Syria or some other country without the rule of law. This should not be happening in the United States.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
I heard the piece tonight. SHOCKED. This is a disgusting way to run a court. It would be difficult to not think this is not malfeasance. This lady MUST be removed from the bench before she does harm to the system that will take decades to repair in the public trust.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
It is difficult to believe that such a vindictive, power-crazed sociopath is permitted to wield such power in our judicial system. Though I live in a neighboring state, I will be doing everything in my power to see her unseated.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Like many of you I found this website because I was too disturbed by the expose in “Very Tough Love” to let it pass. Obviously Judge Williams is a sick woman and needs to be disbarred. But beyond this, the lack of recourse for those she victimizes highlights a terrible weakness in the stucture of drug courts and how they function. T
The comments from those of you familiar with this part of Georgia about the machinery which keeps sadistic and abusive officials in power is doubly frightening in light of recent court decisions allowing unlimited anonymous campain contributions from powerful and wealthy entities. Unless we take action quickly, this decision will result in an entire country that is run like the Glynn and Camden County drug court!
Thank you Ira Glass. You have done this country an invaluable service. And no wonder the far right wants to destroy NPR: it is the voice of free journalism that is anathema to their existence and that of their corporate donors, which include the prison-industrial complex. I urge everyone who reads this to call your senators repeatedly until they vote to continue public support of public media. And then get online with the ACLU and the other organizations listed above, and find out what recourse defendants in drug courts really have.
March 27th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Shocking! Why are people working in the system not speaking out? If it’s fear that is very telling. Is this how Georgia treats its citizens?
March 27th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
As I listened to Ira Glass’s carefully worded and sufficiently substantiated report on Glynn County, GA’s Drug Court, I was first shocked, then appalled, then angry.
I heard Judge Amanda Williams speak about the benefits of Drug Court and her commitment to it before a political group last year, and I heard her during the campaign runup to the November 2010 election here in Glynn County. She impressed me as a most intelligent, earnest, no-nonsense member of the judiciary.
Unfortunately, the most sincere among us can be dead wrong, and our methods can be harmful, even destructive instead of corrective. This highly sensitive and serious issue needs immediate attention from the State Attorney General’s Office, the Governor’s Office, the State Supreme Court and the State Bar Association.
Those interviewed by Mr. Glass can give us only their perspective, which is understandably shadowed by a sense of being treated badly. So, should what they have to say simply be discounted? No. We need more and better information.
We, the citizens, parents, and taxpayers of Glynn County need to know that our judiciary entrusted with Drug Court is fully trained in the dynamics of addiction–not just exposed to it–and in the dynamics of treatment. The State Guidelines call for treatment, not just incarceration. (See GA Drug Court Standards.)
If Judge Williams is indeed operating her court within the Law and within the Guidelines for Drug Court, we need to have that spelled out, too, for our peace of mind. If she is not, action is required.
We get the government we work for.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Paradoxically, the Judge’s campaign web site says: “Of all my experiences and services as your Superior Court Judge for over 19 years, I am most proud of my involvement with Drug Court and of having a role in establishing and overseeing this powerful and positive program.” (http://electjudgewilliams.com/drugcourt.html)
That same site invites e-mails for the Judge via http://electjudgewilliams.com/email.html
Perhaps it would help if someone (who has more technical skills than I do) updates Glynn County’s Wiki page to mention that the county was the subject of this investigative report: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glynn_County,_Georgia.
March 28th, 2011 at 12:03 am
We should never forget that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” whenever we fund programs, no matter how well-meaining the goals of the program. It only takes one, to be nice, “misguided” person like Amanda Williams to harm many people when power is institutionalized without some checks and balances. To set up a system where there is no periodic review from an objective 3rd party to make sure civil rights are not being violated and where there is no recourse to appeals is bound to result in something like this.
Since this program is funded in part with federal money, perhaps sending letters to the agencies that fund or are considering funding them would be effective.
From the program’s website: http://www.glynncounty.org/index.aspx?NID=519, funding has come from a variety of sources. The “Recovery Place, Inc.” helped Judge Williams apply for the initial grant, and now provides services to the program:
Recovery Place, Inc.
Phone: 912-355-1440
Toll-Free: 800-627-4010
Email: admin@recoveryplace.org
The program has appealed to the George Department of Behavioral Health for funding,
Commissioner Frank E. Shelp,
Thomas C. Wilson
Press Secretary
Director of Communications
thwilson@dbhdd.ga.gov
March 28th, 2011 at 12:11 am
Don’t forget about the long drawn out and expensive legal battle that has been going on about the expansion of the Glynn County Detention Center (http://www.GlynnCountyJailExpansion.com). The majority of the jail’s overcrowding problem is because of the way Amanda Williams run’s her precious and beloved Drug Court.
I know someone that was in Drug Court that was ordered to wear an alcohol monitor on their left ankle and a house arrest GPS monitor on their right ankle. The “fees” for these two devices were $700+/month. On top of the $700/month it was ordered that this person WOULD NOT be allowed to work. Therefore having to find a way to pay $700/month with no job or go to jail. Doesn’t sound very fair to me…
March 28th, 2011 at 12:34 am
A lot of good comments.
#1 – the local community IS doing something. For the first time in anyone’s memory, an incumbent superior court judge had election opposition last year. Judge Williams was a 20 year incumbent. She had a very good reputation for 10-15 of those years. Many who oppose her drug court admin think she was fine otherwise as Chief judge of the Superior Court circuit. So she had a LARGE reservoir of good will that was hard to overcome when she could so easily outspend her challenger. That she had opposition was significant. Sadly a lot of locals are now asking when can they vote against her – which just shows how totally unaware they were only a few months ago when she was reelected Nov 2010 for her 5th four year term. It takes $$ and manpower to even reach the voters to inform them there is a race.
#2 – her admin is an example of bleeding heart liberalism. Her aim is to rescue people whether they want it or not – at taxpayer expense. Sounds bleeding heart to me (not to mention scary). What exactly is “conservative” about this court?
#3 Yes it does make us look like some Southern scare movie from the 1930′s. But it’s kept in power by 65% of the voters out of the 50% who bother to vote. Just as California is a broke spendthrift fiscal basket case – not EVERYONE in that state has endorsed their bloated government every time every year. The same is true here — the current state of affairs does not represent a universal acceptance. Some profit and accept. Some believe and accept. Some are ignorant. Some are newly alert.
#4. Our local daily paper is more for advertising and society news – they don’t have investigative reporters. Unless the Jacksonville print media or Jacksonville or Savannah broadcast media get involved in this, most will never even know about the This American Life radio program.
What can you do? Help elevate this to a STATE level. The state of Georgia has a criminal justice reform effort kicked off just 2 months ago. They are gung ho on drug courts and alternatives to incarceration. The Governor’s office needs to hear that the Glynn County drug court is NOT the model for drug courts.
March 28th, 2011 at 4:49 am
All this talk of disbarring or unseating this Woman is disturbing to me. What she is doing should be considered criminal in any system of justice worthy of the name. If an elected official in any other branch of public service abused their powers so completely then an inditement would be just a matter of time, but because she is a judge she is somehow above the law? She is clearly denying these people due process. And that part at the end, where she was compelling patients to take medical procedures against their consent, even procedures unrelated to their addiction, thats a violation of not only American morals, American laws, but it violates international treaties we’ve signed. For the life of me I can’t seem to understand any argument that could claim that someone does not have the right to contest such treatment. There is no-one above the law, except I guess judges in the south.
March 28th, 2011 at 5:39 am
got up early this morning to check the paper, city and counties focused on in a national news story-not one word.
March 28th, 2011 at 6:10 am
Youtube video from 2009, of man saying he was railroaded by a corrupt judge in Glynn County Georgia named…AMANDA WILLIAMS!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAspOFW7vW0
March 28th, 2011 at 6:13 am
A video from 2010, of a picket of the Glynn County courthouse, in protest of the corruption of Judge…AMANDA WILLIAMS!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXio_QjICt4&feature=related
March 28th, 2011 at 7:25 am
Is the South still backwards? I haven’t lived in the States for many years, but looks like not muched has changed. It is scary to see what comes out of those States at times.
March 28th, 2011 at 7:46 am
I am outraged after hearing this report. This woman should not only be disbarred but should also be prosecuted for her crimes. This is clearly a case of a power hungry judge abusing drug addicts. Also, many of the addicts featured were suffering from untreated mental health issues that Judge Williams exacerbated, and caused permanent harm, all in the name of justice?? I wish I could do something to get rid of this woman. Georgia should be embarrassed, humiliated, and ashamed that they continued to let this happen. The guards in the prisons should be prosecuted too. Just because Hitler tells you to gas people and you are following orders doesn’t make you less accountable. Truly disgusting look at humanity.
March 28th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
This is nothing….you should have to live here and actually witness some of her actions in an actual court setting! She yells and screams and her professional demeanor is not very professional. She has court the way she wants to. It’s the gospel according to “Amanda”. She is a bully! Those of us who did vote against her have faced her trying to put us out of business! All of you need to call her office today! They are going nuts in there. The phone number is 912-554-7364. Tell them what you think of their wonderful boss! They are having a hard time being civil to people now. I cannot wait to see her entire kingdom implode! It’s been a long time coming. Good job NPR! Oh happy day!!!!!
March 28th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Judge Williams and her practices should definitely be investigated. This is the kind of stuff you expect to happen in third wold countries, not industrialized countries. It’s unbelievable to me that she keeps getting voted into this job instead of voted out. Either way – it is unethical and seems illegal what she is doing.
March 28th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Thank you, Ira Glass, for your work in producing this story. It is powerful and outrageous. I listened last night and woke up still stewing about the injustice Amanda Williams wields. A google search brought up a video by an 80-year-old man who outlines his own experience of this judge’s justice. Even more outrageous details to learn, completely outside of Drug Court, too. I hope a lot of reactions reach the right people in GA and she is out of the picture very soon.
March 28th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
This story from This American Life makes me physically sick.
You don’t have to be a psychiatrist to know that Judge Williams’ behavior, screaming from the bench and sadistic punishments, are her way of punishing her addict husband.
This woman needs to be removed from the bench, investigated, and, if possible, punished.
March 28th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Sweep it under the carpet – don’t ask so many questions – if you speak up you’ll get branded – don’t speak ill of the community movers and shakers – the lawyers know best – but I go to church with the Judge – …………all heard around the water cooler in Glynn County, Georgia on a daily basis. Not one drop of ink used to print a story in the Brunswick News (www.thebrunswicknews.com) or the Georgia Times Union and I bet there won’t be. Well maybe they’ll come out from under their shell when the legal proceedings against her get started. I wouldn’t put money on it however…. It’s the way… just ask the Chamber of Commerce folks.. Only good news allowed !! Bring in the tourist dollars and damn justice and the truth.
March 28th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Yes, I agree, Colin.
The injustice makes me physically ill. I’d like to see Judge Williams herself behind bars–she deserves to be far more than Brandy (bless you for what you did for Lindsey! I hope your life is good!) and Lindsey did and every young offender mentioned in the story.
And am fervently hoping that Sicko Williams doesn’t respond by punishing Lindsey….how can we find this out? This American Life doesn’t always do follow-ups –but Ira and powerful people and journalists in Georgia, too, I hope, will be watching out for Lindsey and making sure she does get out in May.
I have a sick feeling, though, that Judge Williams will try to retaliate and punish her. I hope there are people in Georgia who will protect her.
March 28th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
One thing this story failed to mention is that some of the outplacement programs being utilized by the Courts are unlicensed programs. Bridges of Hope, while a well-meaning “ministry”, is not a licensed treatment program in Georgia… and there are many others that operate without State licensure. They operate on the premise that they are a ministry and they are exempt from licensure under “separation of Church and State”. But if you consider that St. Joseph’s Hospital and the former Georgia Baptist Medical Center were both ministries of the Catholic Church and the Georgia Baptist Convention, respectively, yet they were required to have State licensure and accreditation to operate as hospitals; then why wouldn’t a ministry providing drug abuse treatment be required to be licensed to provide those services, as well. If the Drug Court utilized an unlicensed program then they: A) were condoning the operation of the illegal provision of treatment without licensure, or B) not fulfilling their own contract to provide treatment to the Defendant(s) in their Drug Court Program. Drug abuse treatment is a specialized industry that should be provided by competent and trained counselors, not glorified 12 Step sponsors acting as professionals, and certainly should be regulated under the State’s rules and regulations for the provision of such services. How could the Court justify sending their treatment participants to such programs?
March 28th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
One thing this story failed to mention is that some of the outplacement programs being utilized by the Courts are unlicensed programs. Bridges of Hope, while a well-meaning “ministry”, is not a licensed treatment program in Georgia… and there are many others that operate without State licensure. They operate on the premise that they are a ministry and they are exempt from licensure under “separation of Church and State”. But if you consider that St. Joseph’s Hospital and the former Georgia Baptist Medical Center were both ministries of the Catholic Church and the Georgia Baptist Convention, respectively, yet they were required to have State licensure and accreditation to operate as hospitals; then why wouldn’t a ministry providing drug abuse treatment be required to be licensed to provide those services, as well. If the Drug Court utilized an unlicensed program then they: A) were condoning the operation of the illegal provision of treatment without licensure, or B) not fulfilling their own contract to provide treatment to the Defendant(s) in their Drug Court Program. Drug abuse treatment is a specialized industry that should be provided by competent and trained counselors, not glorified 12 Step sponsors acting as professionals, and certainly should be regulated under the State’s rules and regulations for the provision of such services. How could the Court justify sending their treatment participants to such programs?
March 28th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Please everyone keep this going! The podcast needs to go viral. The NPR show was the answered prayer we have needed! All I can say is you have only touched the surface. Thank you all so much!
March 28th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
One thing Ira did not cover is the money trail.
I am sure if we follow the proverbial “Follow the money trail” it will reveal more corruption.
Who is benefitting from getting and keeping people in drug courts?
Not only is she vindictive but also doesn’t take into account errors in drug test’s. It looks like that she is bent on keeping people in drug courts.
March 28th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
No matter where you are, write and express your outrage!! http://impeachjudgewilliams.com/what-you-can-do/
March 28th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Check out the Web Extra for This American Life: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/node/4337 Yet another tough story.
Outside pressure must be brought to bear. Everyone in Glynn County feels powerless.
March 28th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Why haven’t the news outlets done more with this? No follow up from Fulton Daily Report. Nothing from the AJC. Where are Georgia journalists?
March 28th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
More to the story. This one didn’t make the broadcast http://www.thisamericanlife.org/node/4337
March 29th, 2011 at 1:39 am
I heard about this tragic story yesterday and ever since I have been in shock and convinced to take a stand against the abuse of power and corruption that has been exposed. I am disgusted and embarassed that our country allows this to happen. I am quite sure injustice on this level happens a lot more than we realize. But what really amazes me is how our country of all countries, can be so sensitive to inhumanity and injustice around the world yet can’t manage basic human rights, justice, and appropriate use of power here. I really do hope Judge Amanda Williams is investigated. But honestly, I won’t doubt if all of our concern is overlooked and nothing is done. That is truely sad part of it all.
March 29th, 2011 at 3:13 am
It would be extremely difficult for a county or state prosecutor to try Judge Williams for the crimes she is committing in administering the drug court, even though much of what she does is criminal. Her whole county is cowed by her, especially the local lawyers.
I do not think it would be as difficult to see her disbarred by the State Bar of Georgia for Professional Misconduct. Once disbarred, the GA state AG could then have her removed from office.
I looked up the State Bar of Georgia handbook on line.
RULE 8.4 MISCONDUCT
(a) It shall be a violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct for a lawyer to:
(1) violate or attempt to violate the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another;
(2) be convicted of a felony;
(3) be convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude where the underlying conduct relates to the lawyer’s fitness to practice law;
(4) engage in professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;
(5) fail to pay any final judgment or rule absolute rendered against such lawyer for money collected by him or her as a lawyer within ten (10) days after the time appointed in the order or judgment. In such cases the record of the judgment is conclusive evidence unless obtained without valid service of process.
March 29th, 2011 at 7:28 am
I recall a story Gordon Liddy told about a prison guard that was intolerably cruel. Instead of plotting to kill him, he cautioned the other inmates to simply “neutralize” him. They looked at him from all angles and decided his weakness was his insane jealousy over his wife. Well-placed love letters made him go nuts, and then he was unemployable. How to neutralize Amanda Williams? Promote her to a position far away from her victims? There must be a job opening in Washington that would suit her.
Also, if you are outraged enough, at least get involved by demanding other media do their own investigation. If you have the email address of anyone in Georgia, send them the link to hear the Very Tough Love episode for themselves.
March 29th, 2011 at 9:27 am
Not a word in the local paper yet. Go to http://impeachjudgewilliams.com/
March 29th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
called the paper asked when was an article coming out about Judge Williams, told “when you see one, you do.” Time for a subscription boycott.
March 29th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Looks like this cowardly bully of a “judge” has taken her email page, and in fact her entire website, offline to avoid being contacted and criticized.
Fortunately, you can still use Google to search for “elect Judge Williams” and then access the Cached version of those pages. Or, just use this link to get to her email form:
http://tinyurl.com/4vnemp5
This woman needs to be disbarred and then do some serious prison time. I wonder what HER lawyer would argue if she were to be sentenced to “indefinite solitary confinement” and denied all access to legal counsel, representatives of the court, friends, family, phone calls, and US mail. No doubt she’d suddenly find such a sentence to be blatantly illegal!
March 29th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
The drug courts and drug laws in general have taken us back to the inquisition of the middle ages. A recent case in California featured two probation officers that stated that they saw 2 marks on a probationer’s right arm and even though the probationer was on random drug testing and had never had a dirty test, they filed a complaint that she had ingested a drug, without saying what drug or when it was ingested. They had no pictures of the alleged marks, and no doctor examined the marks, yet the judge sentenced her to 45 days in jail, and took her out of the court room in handcuffs. The probationer lost her job, which is required as a part of her probation and could not even call her employer to let them know what had happened.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I just read someone say that she should resign. I totally dissagree. She should be investigated, ‘worked through’ the system she exploited & then given solitary confinement. Please, please, oooohh please do that! The nation is now watching….ANd now, it’s time to explore the rest of the country.
March 29th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Justice system supposed to protect us from predators..
This judge is a tyrant predator, that needs to be taken down
March 29th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
I don’t see how the state or federal governmanet can stand by and do nothing. At a minimum, there needs to be an investigation into this judges actions. This is a black eye for southern states and the judicial system as a whole.
March 29th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
It is very sad that a great program like drug court can be twisted into something evil by this Judge. I hope that the girl who wrote the 2 checks considers filing a civil rights lawsuit against the judge for her “indefinite incarceration” along with the draconian order that she have no contact with other humans and no access to a phone or mail. This Order by the Court is soooo way over the top that I bet a Federal Court would determine she acted outside her judicial authority and hold her personally liable for the damages experienced by the young girl. Someone needs to start appealing the rulings of this judge. File a Writ with the appellate court exposing what she is doing! This has got to stop!!!
March 30th, 2011 at 10:38 am
http://www.atlawblog.com/2011/03/glynn-camden-drug-court-judge-to-be-featured-on-nprs-this-american-life/comment-page-2/#comment-11983
March 30th, 2011 at 11:53 am
Please help us with this! All of Georgia and the rest of the country needs to know! http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-arch… Please help us! We have been suffering since this woman took office in 1990! Now that her power-mad corruption has finally reached national attention we have a chance to finally get rid of her. Don’t believe there’s real corruption in Brunswick? Our local paper has still yet to print one word about this. Listen to the podcast. Google her name. This doesn’t even address her conduct in civil and criminal court! Go to link below and help write letters, please. Thank you. http://impeachjudgewilliams.com/what-you-can .
March 30th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
This sounded like it took place in a Soviet Gulag- not in the United States of America. I was sickened by this story. I am angry.
Clearly this must stop. As American citizens, the rest of us have a stake in this.
This judge belongs behind bars. Every case she has overseen is suspect and should be immediate reviewed by someone who *does* have all their marbles. And this evil “system” must be immediately dismantled.
Please- someone tell us: How can we help? What can we do to shut this down? Who do we call? Where can we send a check?
March 30th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
You know, re-reading all these comments and thinking of the millions of Americans who have just learned about this travesty on This American Life,……
I’m thinking Judge Amanda Williams is having a bad day.
(Think about it. One day is like all the rest, then suddenly- literally millions of outraged Americans from all walks of life really, REALLY want to take you down. Not just some people, but literally MILLIONS. That’s got to wreck your day, ya know?
March 30th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
http://ImpeachJudgeWilliams.com/what-you-can-do/
There is a lawyer who has been standing up and fighting Judge Amanda Williams. Her name is Mary Helen Moses. She would be a good person to contact to ask what you can do to help.
Her contact information is:
Mary Helen Moses
228 Redfern Village, Suite 203
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522-2504
Phone:912-634-8595
Fax:912-634-8075
http://www.mhmoses.com/
March 30th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
What an appalling story. Ira Glass’ investigative reports keep getting better and better. Someone needs to do something about her and NOW.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:12 am
I live in Germany at present (a TN native) and just googled after hearing this story to find out where I could donate money to get this woman off the bench. wow.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:58 pm
I live in Australia and just listened to this on the radio over here. I cannot believe this judge. What a travesty, what a horror, what a complete and utter miscarriage of justice! This sounds like something coming out of China or Russia, not out of the USA. I can only hope that now that this story is out in the open, she will be promptly gotten rid of. I’ve never been a fan of the appointment of judges, but this is one time that I think it is well justified. Bravo Ira.
April 1st, 2011 at 12:18 am
Brunswick News finally printed something on this today,but as usual small town corruption had to put its spin on things. She received death threats, likely from her own camp to discredit those trying to oust her. The article comes out six days after the national radio broadcast, six days not a word, then this, corruption in Brunswick? You decide. The “news” article: http://www.impeachjudgewilliams.com/bwknews-3-31-2011.pdf
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2011-03-26/story/glynn-county-drug-court-focus-american-life-episode-airing-today#comment-388173#ixzz1IF3YGzjP
April 1st, 2011 at 2:04 am
1. Wasnt there a violation of habius corpus with the woman locked awaty and allowed no contact with family, doctors, lawyers or court?
2. For all freaked about government taking away their freedoms… Here it is for real! The thing that alarmed me most was that people throughout this community have lost their free speech for fear of government (via the judiciary) retaliation.
Actions that cause so much fear in a population as to silence dissent is also called terrorism. These people who call themselves “small government” or “conservative” who vote for this kind of tyranny have really lost the plot on the matter of freedom.
April 1st, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Impeach Amanda Williams.
NOW
April 1st, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Although Judge Williams has taken down her reelection website, she can still (and always) be reached via her Georgia government email address:
amandaw@glynncounty-ga.gov
I urge everyone in the legal community, from all political persuasions, to send an email to condemn her practices in Drug Court, which are essentially equal to the sort of court procedure, suppression of defendant rights and totalitarian procedure that one would not normally be associated with the American legal system. The fact that the state of Georgia has not automatically disbarred this woman from ruining people’s lives is an outrage and not just an embarrassment for Georgia, but already becoming a national disgrace in newspapers abroad. This has become a great way for the haters of America to prove that we are not at all what we claim to be. In other words, whether she knows it or not, she has fast become an international ally of our enemies.
Howard Coale esq.
April 1st, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I am a Glynn County native. I am dismayed to hear that such a rampant misuse of power is being wielded. Not all natives of Georgia are low classed drug users, and I take offense that a judge would make that assumption about all of the people she encounters. Judges are suppose to show impartiality. I agree with the post from freedom from tyranny. Where is the writ of Habeas Corpus?
April 1st, 2011 at 9:08 pm
After listening to This American Life, I find DIShonorable Judge Amanda Williams to be just like our own, homegrown Colonel Gaddafi – probably even worse. She’s just as crazy as he is, but even more dangerous than Gaddafi because she APPEARS sane to some people. She deserves nothing less than the same fate as the Libyan dictator and it’s about time this country starts becoming more active in law and politics! We’re being put to shame by handfuls of nations of oppressed people, finally mustering the courage to not just speak out but ACT to elicit change. We may have busy lives but we can never be too busy to ensure justice prevails in this country. I hope ALL judges, politicians, and others that take advantage of the law – and abuse their position – are put on warning. You better change your ways FAST if you plan on retaining your job!
April 2nd, 2011 at 12:24 am
Something needs to be done to defend people against the injustice taking place in this court. There has to be a campaign to have her removed.
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:09 am
Such injustice and abuse of power – Judge Amanda Williams should step down voluntarily, and immediately.
April 2nd, 2011 at 4:56 pm
The most disturbing thing to me is that this program was designed without procedures for oversight and accountability short of voting the judge out of office.
What about Habeas review? Even convicted felons in a state prison have post-conviction relief procedures.
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:28 pm
“This American Life”s piece on Judge Amanda Wiliams made me ill. Her practice of sending people away for “indefinite sentences” only to be released on her whim, holding people in solitary confinement for three months for non-violent crimes, and denying them medical attention is a violation of human rights. This is a case for Amnesty International! Someone please do something!
April 3rd, 2011 at 1:19 am
You all need to read and listen to the transcripts again. They will prove that the 3 people who are trying to slam Judge Williams are lying. Charlie says that he did not know why his test was tested positive, over and over again. All of a sudden, Charlie remembers that the lab technician put a cap on the vial from the garbage can, within a minute of when he had no explanation of how this could have happened. Give me a break! Where is Brandy’s mother? All she had to do was to come forward and tell Judge Williams, the Sheriff, and police officers that Brandy was carrying her medication. As for Ms Dills, I hope she is not still in denial. she admits that she was very rebellious, she chose drug court only because her parents did not want her to choose that direction. Most of the time, parents know what is best for their children, especially if the parents love their child. Making mistakes is a part of growing up. Admit your mistakes, and go on with your life in a positive way. Do not blame Judge Williams or anyone else for your own errors. You admitted to part of your problems. Blaming someone else for your mistakes will not make your problem go away. Revenge will get you nowhere. There are some people who will lead you to support their cause, and they are very selfish to use you for their benefit. They will put hatred and revenge so deep in your heart that you will live another ten years or the rest of your life fighting for their cause. Their emotions are not part of your life. You are going to be able to lead your own life soon; please do not become the puppet of these people who are using you. I am an unbiased citizen of your own community.
April 3rd, 2011 at 4:18 am
A gripping piece of radio journalism. Makes me sad. Many above mentioned that the whole truth in Glynn county is much worse. What other abuses are going on?
April 4th, 2011 at 12:21 am
I just sent her an email. What a horrible judge – no compassion for people. She said her husband is in recovery? Well, she needs the rooms of AlAnon and some anger management therapy. Whether or not, those people were completely truthful, her actions are reprehensible
April 4th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
The movement to impeach Judge Amanda Williams was going on long before the radio broadcast. She has been running her court in an out-of-control manner since the ’90s. There are many people who have witnessed her brand of law. It’s not about drug court, it’s not about being a victim, it’s not about not taking responsibility for your own actions, it’s not about some Yankee putting down southerners, these are all totally lame, illogical, excuses for a real problem that needs to be addressed. Judge Amanda Williams steps outside the law, and systematically does things wrong, on a regular basis, outside of her rights and jurisdiction as a judge, and tramples the rights of people before her court, be it drug, civil, or criminal. She need to be disbarred, charged and incarcerated. I would personally be happy if she just stepped down. However that’s not her style, just like the 4 million taxpayer dollars spent in the jail fiasco and the wild taxpayer money being blown in her mismanagement of drug court, there is no doubt she will fight to the end to spend as much taxpayer dollars as possible. It will still be worth every penny.
April 4th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
As a christian, I am appalled at how evil Williams is – she needs therapy. She has ruined so many lives. Why the people support her is crazy. GOD DOES NOT LOVE YOU BEING EVIL – WAKE UP!
April 14th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
[...] to This American Life’s March 25, 2011 episode on Georgia’s punitive drug court, which is run contrary to the rehabilitative, restorative philosophy of the [...]