March, 2007

Voices from Benton Harbor, Mich.
Corruption Rolls On in Berrien County, Mich.

BY REV. EDWARD PINKNEY

Rev. Edward Pinkney and his wife Dorothy. PHOTO/DAYMONJHARTLEY.COM

Bad judges and corrupt judges are commonplace in Berrien County, Michigan. One of the most serious mistakes you can make is assuming that you will receive a fair trial from an impartial judge. The problem of corrupt judges is rampant in the American legal system. Instead of objectively administering true justice, judges are ruling according to their personal biases and political allegiances to the corporations. It is truly said that power corrupts. Nowhere is this more evident than with judges. Our Constitution is based on we the people. It is time to speak up. We must make change. Democracy is not working.

Bad and corrupt judges--those who willfully violate their oath of office for bribery, blackmail, political allegiance, personal bias, etc.--are plaguing the courts today. Many regard their oath of office as merely a formality to be conveniently forgotten as soon as they occupy their chambers. Once comfortably in place in their courtrooms, they take on the mantle of demigods and act as if they have carte-blanche to do as they please, legislating from the bench with a wave of the hand, confident in the knowledge that their misdeeds have scant chance of ever reaching the Supreme Court.

Time after time, District and Appellate Court Judges ignore Supreme Court rulings that are contrary to the corporate agenda, misinterpret statutes whose meaning is perfectly clear, and bully litigants, pro se litigants and witnesses. Not only do they intentionally pervert justice, they create erroneous case law which may be subsequently cited by lower court judges. This practice leads to a vicious cycle in which one erroneous ruling is piled on top of another. It is forming a judicial cancer.

The best example that I can give you is of Berrien County Sheriff Detective/Sergeant Michael Danneffel, who paid Tommie Travis--a witness for the prosecution in my trial--to lie on tape and to the jury. The jury will never know that Danneffel said he was going to pay Tommie Travis to lie, that he paid him $5 and then threatened his life. The tape was played in Judge Alfred Butzbaugh's Courtroom. The Judge did nothing about this legal injustice. These corrupt courts are all around us. They serve the corporations, not the people. We must make a change.

If it appears that you are dealing with a corrupt judge, it is vital that you immediately rid yourself of any delusion that he/she will become impartial later in the proceedings. Once a judge reveals their corruption, you must take a stand. Corrupt judges are a serious threat to the fabric of society and it is your duty to tackle the problem with all the power at hand.

The poor are forced to fight for a new America, free of want, with justice and cooperation. If the people unite around the struggle of the poor and their vision of a new society, a new world can be won.

Second trial of Rev. Pinkney starts March 13; Your support is needed

Rev. Edward Pinkney's second trial begins March 13 at 9 a.m. It will continue through March 14 , 15, 16, 20, 21 and 22. Please come and support Rev. Pinkney against the corrupt and racist Berrien County Courthouse. It is very important that you be there. Call 269-925-0001 for more information.

VOICES OF BENTON HARBOR, MICH.

"Benton Harbor is being developed. We look forward to development, but not at the expense of our rights. The natural resources that we expected our elected officials to protect and keep for our use has been given way. The City is making new laws that are merging law enforcement and code enforcement. There is a show of force by the Police Department. This is not good for the poor and not for anybody. Many people may have to walk away from their homes because of the burden that will be put on them. The City will take over their homes, their automobiles and some will even be jailed because they won't be able to pay for what is demanded. These new laws are made by big corporations. They are setting this up so it appears that it is a 'legal.' We are the have-nots. Many of us are divided. We need to stand together."
-- A Benton Harbor community leader

"The workforce here goes through job programs, yet they don't get jobs. Then the officials report that the jobs programs are a complete success. They also say Benton Harbor has no qualified people to get these jobs as they become available. But, people went through the program! This brings up a question--where is the money going for these programs? "
-- A concerned citizen