The article mentions the close relationship that Judges have with attorneys that appear before them. I doubt if this is any surprise to anyone. The Judges are often former attorneys.
A case in point. Friend of mine was convicted of simple assault (in the Courthouse), and sentenced to 30 days in jail by a Judge in the courtroom.
The police were just getting ready to process him when he was escorted to the Judges chambers. There was the Judge and my friend's attorney in the chambers. Right on the spot, the Judge reduced my friends sentence to no hard time. I do not how he was able to do that, but my friend said he did. My friend never went to jail that I know of.
Apparently, the Judge and the attorney were friends. The 30 days of jail time was probably just window dressing.
