Tallahassee, FL—The Judicial Qualifications Commission whose panel consists of fifteen people—two district court of appeal judges who are chosen by all the judges of the fifth district court. Two circuit judges chosen by all the judges of the twenty judicial circuits. Two county court judges, chosen by judges of sixty-seven county courts. Four registered voters who are lawyers, chosen by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar. Lastly, five must be non-lawyers who are registered voters, chosen by the Governor. (All in all—you have the fox guarding the hen house.)
It’s no secret to the nation and to the world that Florida is being run by a governor who engages in criminal activities. History has taught us that whenever there are criminals in office, people around them (other officials) are encouraged to act as criminals. The re-election of Governor Rick Scott only underscores that money can get people whatever they want in Florida. After all, it was the media who reported that a flight school in Florida was where a group of Middle Eastern guys walked in with a suitcase full of money and in broken English asked to be taught how to fly a plane minus the landing procedures. Well, we all know the outcome of that situation. Lately, there have been reports of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi looking out for corporate interests over Floridians—with gifts and luxury trips in the range of $51,000. Fifty-one thousand dollars—clearly, more than that was spent on her education—so why she has chosen to sell Floridians out to corporations is truly sad. Oh, yes, Floridians know that corporate money played a huge role in her re-election too.
Just recently, in October 2014, the Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Second Circuit Judge Judith Hawkins, an African-American woman, committed violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Certain reports stated, in part, that one of the violations had to do with Circuit Judge Hawkins promoting and selling Christian ministry products to lawyers and employees in the courthouse. Immediately after violating Circuit Judge Hawkins, the Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended to the Florida Supreme Court that she be disciplined or be removed from the bench. Shortly thereafter, the Florida Supreme Court removed Circuit Judge Hawkins from the bench.
In another case brought before the same Judicial Qualifications Commission in regards to three Second Circuit Court Judges and one Leon County Judge, the Judicial Qualifications Commission failed to hold any of the all White American judges accountable for their violations. The court case, State of Florida vs. DeShon Thomas was plagued by corrupt acts in which all of the judges played a significant role. On each level, had the judges acted ethically, 17-year-old DeShon Thomas would have never had any charges brought against him.
DeShon, who was a 17-year-old freshman at Tallahassee Community College and employee at a local fast-food restaurant, was a quick pick for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to charge and arrest for several crimes, including double murder. But when a team of Leon County Sheriff’s Detectives could not link DeShon to any of the crimes, including the murders, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell, along with Second District State Attorney Willie Meggs—filed Probable Cause with the Leon County Clerk of Court naming Leon County Sheriff’s Detective, Don Odham, as having processed evidence at the crime scene and having directly received incriminating statements about DeShon.
The process to get DeShon to trial was plagued with corruption. DeShon had five attorneys (one private & four court appointed). DeShon and his mother fired his private attorney, Greg Cummings, who had been paid nearly $30,000 for misconduct. The Florida Bar received complaint against Greg Cummings and three other attorneys who work for State Attorney Willie Meggs. The Florida Bar has chosen to protect all of the attorneys involved.
Approximately, nine months after DeShon fired Mr. Cummings, DeShon’s mother called Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson out to Governor Rick Scott for violating several of DeShon’s U.S. Constitutional Rights from the time DeShon had first been charged with the murders. Circuit Judge Hankinson was immediately replaced by Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford. Circuit Judge Hankinson had been presiding over DeShon’s case for over two years before he was replaced. In part, DeShon’s mother believes that Circuit Judge Hankinson directly conspired with Mr. Greg Cummings and Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell in an attempt to railroad DeShon into Florida’s Prison System.
Both Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson and Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford worked for State Attorney Willie Meggs prior to becoming elected/appointed to their judgeship. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford came onto DeShon’s case and allowed more of the same corruption. She allowed Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell to tell her what needed to be done and when it needed to be done right there in her courtroom. Despite several pleas from DeShon’s mother to Governor Rick Scott and others to assign a Special Prosecutor to DeShon’s case—they all refused. Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell could not have gotten a conviction without using all of his state and personal resources to convict DeShon. Assistant State Attorney/Prosecutor Jack Campbell’s prosecution of DeShon was a full blown—all out—reach in order to protect his dad, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, who had jurisdiction over the investigation, for allowing their family friend, Don Odham, to act as a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective. Don Odham was not a paid employee of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. In fact, Don Odham did not have the credentials to be a detective. None of DeShon’s attorney deposed or made it known that Don Odham was never an employee of Sheriff Larry Campbell and should have never been allowed to search the crime scene or have any role as a detective in such a serious investigation. But once again, money prevailed. Don Odham was said to be a wealthy, close personal friend of the Campbell family. And his wealth played a role in the murder charges and conviction of DeShon.
In October 2013, during DeShon’s trial, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford allowed Don Odham to testify, in which Don Odham was being addressed as Detective Odham, in front of the jury. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford allowing Don Odham to testify as a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective with her knowledge of Don Odham never having been a Leon County Sheriff Detective is equivalent to a child molester claiming to be a neighborhood doctor—undressing and touching little kids whose only complaint is that of a headache.
DeShon’s court appointed attorney, Regional Counsel Daren Shippy, failed to address witnesses that he knew were committing perjury. Before, during and after DeShon’s trial, it was clear that the State of Florida and the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, along with the two circuit judges and The Florida Bar were not upholding the U.S. State Constitution. Seventeen year-old DeShon was denied due process under the law.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission, who states, “Other government authorities may deprive you of your rights, rightly or wrongly, but only a judge can deny you of your rights”, kicked the can when it came to the exposure of the Devils in the courtroom.
A cold-blooded murderer has been intentionally left out in the community. Both the Florida Bar and the Judicial Qualifications Commission have proven that they have their own agendas. And like Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, they don’t include the best interest of Floridians. With the latest ruling by the Florida Supreme Court to remove Circuit Judge Judith Hawkins from the bench by recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission—well, it shows that Florida’s Courtrooms are no place for Christians—but has plenty of space for Devils.
DeShon is INNOCENT!
Mothers Against Unethical Laws (MAUL) 