From the Statehouse News Service:

“PANEL RECOMMENDS CENSURE, SUSPENSION, FINE FOR JUDGE MURPHY”

Superior Court Judge Ernest Murphy failed to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and should be publicly censured, suspended without pay for 30 days, and face a $25,000 fine in connection with his actions during a libel suit against The Boston Herald, the state Judicial Conduct Commission announced on Tuesday. The commission, in recommendations and findings dated Monday and sent to the Supreme Judicial Court, found that Murphy improperly used court stationery for personal business, used improper form, tone and content in letters to Herald Publisher Patrick Purcell, and that his letters were improperly intimidating and threatening in tone. The commission determined that in one letter, Judge Murphy improperly attempted to coerce Purcell into settling the libel suit and not pursuing an appeal. The commission initiated a complaint against Murphy in January 2006 alleging that he committed misconduct by sending letters regarding the lawsuit against the Herald and several of its reporters to Purcell. The Herald filed a second complaint in February 2006 making similar charges and laying out other accusations about the tone and content of his letters. In February 2005, a jury found Murphy had been libeled by the Herald and returned a verdict in Murphy's favor of $2.09 million.”

AHAHAHAHA what a buffoon.  I defended this guy – even writing a letter to the editor to the Enterprise on the subject –– but what an idiot.

If people remember, Murphy was the subject of a series of article by the Herald attacking him for being soft on criminals.  Most of the stories were hung around a single quote (allegedly telling a rape victim to “get over it”) but it turned out the reporter couldn’t even prove where he got the quote from.  That was what I pointed out it my letter –– a paper has every right to go after this guy, but take the politics out and the stories were just shoddy journalism.

Of course, Judge Murphy went completely apedoodoo insane after the verdict and tried to extort more money out of the Herald –- after he’d already won a $2 million settlement against them! This man can no longer count me among his defenders.

After attending the retirement lecture at the Whitman library: It’s pretty scary what’s happened to people, between the stock market scariness and the housing crunch.

The only financial experience I can claim is that I once pretended to be a Bear Stearns employee.  (No joke, I used to work for a guy whose son worked for them.  There was some big conference in Boston and the son was unable to make it, so I put on a suit and tie and stuck a tape recorder in my pocket.  I just played solitaire on my PDA during the lectures and pretended I was doing something important.  One guy questioned my credentials and I mumbled something about “synergy” and walked away.)

Very strange note, at the East Bridgewater selectmen’s meeting I actually had to move from my normal spot because the noise from the window near my seat was so loud.  It was somehow being caused by the window but the best way I could describe it is a “farting” sound.  I’ve heard of sick buildings, but gassy buildings?

Also, George Samia used the word “jabroni” at the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday.  I’m hurriedly searching for picture so I can photoshop George’s head onto The Rock’s body.  (He also used the phrase “a perfect star trek world.”  Finally, someone in government who speaks my language!)