#wake county courthouse

[jnledford]

Instagram post linked here

Upcoming book, “Lykos”, by new independent author J. N. Ledford, is a supernatural contemporary romance novel with a twist.

Estimated publication in late 2025 or early 2026!

More content to be posted as the date arrives.

--- ☆ ---

“Khalid Hawkins expects a few things when he moves to Haywood County, NC, to take over the cabin he inherited from his late grandfather – old pipes, cleaning up a yard, and maybe some renovations if he can figure them out himself. What comes as a surprise however is when the first storm hits and he hears a crash in the shed outside, only to find a werewolf slumped over in a heap with an arrow gouged into its body.

Fae Holloway expects a few things when she opens her eyes, like a white light to walk into since she just got shot with a silver tipped arrow. Instead, she gets to wake up to a burning pain in her chest, more wolfsbane than she’s ever seen, and bones that feel like they’re ready to dissolve. At least she is still alive, and still in her wolf form, which is likely the only reason she survived to begin with. All her realizations topped off by the wide-eyed stare of the young man poking his head around the corner of the splintered shed door.

The pair are in for more than they realize as they begin to grow closer, unaware that the very people who had driven the werewolf into Khalid’s life weren’t ready to give up on the hunt just yet.”

---------------------------

[Background image of Devil’s Courthouse in the Blue Ridge Parkway by @ajledford_com (instagram) used with permission]

[rapeculturerealities]

Ohio woman who miscarried won't be charged, jury says | AP News

An Ohio woman facing a criminal charge for her handling of a home miscarriage will not be charged, a grand jury decided Thursday.

The Trumbull County prosecutor’s office said grand jurors declined to return an indictment for abuse of a corpse against Brittany Watts, 34, of Warren, resolving a case that had sparked national attention for its implications for pregnant women as states across the country hash out new laws governing reproductive health care access in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned.

The announcement came hours before her supporters planned a “We Stand With Brittany!” rally on Warren’s Courthouse Square.

[offender42085]

Post 0516

Thomas Nathan Teets aka Arthur Storez, Pennsylvania inmate NE1969, born 1985, incarceration intake in 2017 at age 32, sentenced to 15 to 30 years

Murder, Aggravated assault, Abuse of a corpse, Theft, Robbery, Tampering with evidence 

A Dawson man will serve 15 to 30 years behind bars for third-degree murder in the death of a Bullskin Township woman, a deal the victim's family agreed to under the assurance they could bring her body home.

Thomas Nathan Teets, 32, pleaded guilty in Fayette County Court to killing Leah Marie Owens, 31, on Sept. 15, 2017. He stabbed her to death and hid her body in a shallow grave where investigators said no one would have ever found her.

"I just pray to God that Leah is at peace now," said her mother, Camilla "Cammy" Crosby, before Teets was sentenced. "It took 45 days. We got her home."

Family members and friends filled the largest courtroom at the Fayette County Courthouse, clutching packs of tissues with dazed expressions, receiving encouraging pats on their shoulders from those already seated. The closest members of the family filed in behind solemn-faced investigators, expressions raw with grief as they faced Teets just days after their fears were confirmed that Owens had been murdered.

Crosby reported her daughter missing Sept. 20 when she failed to check in with family, a regular occurrence for the mother of two. After thousands of hours of investigation, state police charged Teets in her death just days before he pleaded guilty. They did so without having found her body.

After Teets was arraigned on the charges, investigators questioned him throughout the day. State police Cpl. Heather Clem-Johnston, who was in frequent contact with the family throughout the investigation, called Crosby to see if she would agree to the plea bargain if Teets confessed and took them to Owens' body.

She responded, "Bring my daughter home," said District Attorney Rich Bower.

By late afternoon, police said he led them to Owens' body in Dunbar Township.

"Does he deserve more time? In my opinion, yes," Bower said during the sentencing before Judge Steve P. Leskinen. "But we did this for the family, once we knew who the murderer was."

"It's a different situation, and one that's done at great speed," Leskinen said, adding that the plea agreement was below the mitigated range for third-degree murder. "The family's wishes are something we intend to honor."

When the judge asked Teets if he was guilty of all six crimes – third-degree murder, aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse, theft, robbery and tampering with evidence – he responded, "Yes, sir."

Teets remained seated and turned toward Crosby briefly.

"I'd like to say I'm sorry for hurting your family," he said, appearing unemotional.

Earlier this week, Owens' older sister, Lauren Solosky, said the family could not bear to sit through days of a trial listening to the details of her death after already waiting five weeks to learn her fate. She called the waiting process a "nightmare" for Owens' family and friends.

Shane Gannon, who was representing Teets through the Fayette County Public Defender's Office, said he was involved with the case for several weeks, since late September when Teets was jailed for contempt in a domestic case. Teets told the judge he was satisfied with his representation.

Crosby, who is battling cancer, said she would wake up every morning wondering if her daughter's disappearance was only a nightmare. She would wake often wake up in the middle of the night.

"Pouring down rain, and the wind is blowing, and it's cold. And you pray to God your child isn't freezing. She's not getting wet," she said. "It was horrendous for all those days."

The morning of the murder, Owens went with Teets to Crosby's home. Both times, Owens asked for money, which investigators said was to pay a debt to Teets. Solosky also wired Owens money that day.

Owens left her mother's house, saying she would be back in 20 minutes after taking a shower. Crosby left for her radiation treatment.

"But I never heard from Leah again after that, and I knew within hours – mother's intuition – that something bad had happened. I knew it," she said.

She went door-to-door, asking about her daughter's whereabouts. Meanwhile, Teets dug a grave about two-feet deep and buried Owens' body, less than one mile from where investigators said he bought drugs.

"It was in a heavily thicketed area where, in our opinion, no hunter or anyone else would have stumbled upon Leah," said Bower.

Charges were filed after lab results matched Owens' DNA to blood found on a knife blade and identified Teets' blood on the handle. The knife was found in a Owens' abandoned car by Normalville fire department. Owen's blood was also found on the car.

Teets cut off part of his finger during the stabbing, which Bower described as a permanent reminder of his crimes, dubbing him "the nine-fingered man."

Teets confessed he murdered Owens to many people, according to Bower. The keys of Owens' vehicle were found hidden in a vent in his house.

Members of the family exchanged hugs with investigators as they left the courthouse.

"I wanted Leah home. I don’t know what my future holds. None of us know what our future holds," Crosby said. "We needed Leah home for her closure and for the closure of her babies, and for all this I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart."

3j

[alpacasandravens]

post-canon fix it where cas comes back from the empty and dean’s still dead. Jack was doing some reorganizing upstairs and conveniently let cas slip back down to earth, Grace in a bottle around his neck. and he wakes up and he looks around and there’s nobody there. so he finds a payphone and he calls dean. no answer. he calls dean’s other cell, and his other other cell. no answer. he tries Sam’s phone and Sam picks up on the fourth ring. “everyone who has this number is dead,” he says. “who are you.”

and cas explains and Sam comes to get him and takes him home. not to the bunker, to his and Eileen’s house in town. the bunker is up and running, and they keep it stocked and clean, but hunts are less and less frequent now chuck’s gone. Sam’s on the county council and the school board. Eileen runs a kickboxing class. and three years ago, Dean died in a barn.

Sam explains that it had been chuck’s last gasp, a vamp hunt designed solely to gank him, and that Jack hadn’t been able to stop him writing in time. Billie, also back and free of chuck’s manipulation, says she couldn’t help even if she wanted to. heaven’s gone. reapers just bring the souls to the metaphorical pearly gates, they can’t go inside. dean is dead, and this time it’s for good.

Sam and cas and Eileen live. and they grow and they mourn dean - though sam and Eileen did most of this mourning three years ago, while for cas the grief is fresh and new. they set cas up a little granny flat in the shed out back, and he plants flowers in the yard. Sam adopts, a little shifter boy that reminds him far too much of how they couldn’t save Bobby John all those years ago. cas gets a job at the library. life goes on.

cas has lost his love and his son on the same day, and he wasn’t there for either of them. and he’s not really a part of the life sam and Eileen are building for themselves, even if he does help out on a hunt every now and then and even if their kid does call him uncle cas. Claire drops by for a visit, tells him she and Kaia are getting a courthouse marriage and he will be one of the witnesses. life goes on.

until one day sam gets another call. dean’s back. jack’s with him, gave up his power. something about dean convincing him the life worth living was the one down on earth. dean’s Heaven had come unplugged with chuck’s computer, turned into a purgatory-like, twisted version of itself he had only just managed to escape. and he’s realized that things might suck on earth, but being alive was still a hell of a lot better than being dead.

and dean’s alive and jack’s alive but neither of them have been in so long that they don’t know how to be, and cas has been without them for so long that he doesn’t know how to fit them into his life, only that he has to. and the fic ends with dean and Jack opening Sam’s front door, and Jack seeing cas for the first time since everything went down, and saying, “hi, dad.”

[maybebecomingms]

a decade of repression

February 18, 2024

Lately I've been fixated on this memory of silently sobbing in the dark surrounded by my ex husband and his family. I didn't make a sound so as not to wake anyone up, and I did my best to breathe through the full bodily contractions so I didn't move and cause him to stir inches away from me.

It was February 14, 2020, and everyone had turned in for the night after his brother and his new wife eloped earlier that day at the courthouse. I have no clue why we split a room with his parents and grandmother - we didn't need to save money that badly to completely forego privacy. Anyway, I was never comfortable at a single family gathering of theirs, and I'm sure I was exhausted from another day of heavy masking. I'm sure I was drunk, too. It was the only way to cope.

But mostly I was feeling sad as the day drew nearer to The Dark Day, and I didn't have any outlet. Nobody cared. Now was not the time. That was a long time ago - everyone else has moved on.

I haven't talked much about my dad's death here - after all, that's not why I made this blog. But you can't separate me from this thing that has happened - it's a part of me.

The morning of February 16, 2014 started normally. We made our way to church and stopped for sandwiches after. While in line waiting for them, my ex showed me a text on his phone from my mother: "Please come here when you can." We'd had our phones on silent during the service, and I opened mine to find several missed calls and texts, too. I tried to call back and find out what was going on, but no one would come out and say it - it's not a thing to tell someone over the phone. I knew right away my dad had passed. None of the calls or texts were from him. Seeing the county sheriff squad in the driveway upon arrival confirmed it for me.

The following week was hazy as we wrote an obituary and planned a funeral for someone whose cell phone was still on and ringing, for someone who was feeling under the weather but still went to work the other day.

My world just sort of stopped. But life goes on, and mine did, in a slow and disjointed kind of way. I didn't really talk about it in any sort of meaningful way with anyone. Many church friends went *poof* (which is super common if you ask any evangelical who goes through something difficult). And I couldn't ask my family to accommodate my feelings. They were going through it, too, and my job was always to take care of everyone else. Even now - that's not an option. My ex tried to understand and empathize, but he simply couldn't, and eventually I could tell he just wanted me to "get over it." A few older adults with some perspective tried to get through to me, but I wasn't in a place to receive it. I even went to grief counseling two years later, but my therapist was so busy trying to convince me that having a baby would fix my grieving that I didn't really get to work through said grief.

It was very isolating. Sure, I knew of people who had lost parents to prolonged illness or an accident. I didn't bother them, though - I didn't want to stir anything up, and I wasn't sure they'd get it. My dad was sick with pneumonia, yes, but nobody thought he'd die when he did. He died of natural causes, in his sleep, like you might expect to happen to someone decades over. He had chronic illnesses society nonchalantly calls "lifestyle diseases" and yes, a series of poor lifestyle choices caught up with him. Those poor choices impacted me for most of my life, too. How do you even explain that to someone?

My partner also lost his dad when he was in his late 20s, and both of our dads were 58 when they passed. It's not my story to tell and it wasn't an identical situation, but it was weirdly similar in a lot of ways. I've always thought no one could ever possibly begin to understand this thing and the complicated dynamics surrounding it, but if anyone does, it's him.

We didn't exactly talk about it at great length this weekend, but we did go visit. Mid-February in northern Minnesota typically would NOT be the time to go to the cemetery, but this winter is anything but typical. It was actually the first time I've ever gone there and found the grave by myself. I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to do it!

But I did, and it felt like the right thing to do after a decade of holding back at all costs.

[beardedmrbean]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A school shooter serving a life sentence without parole for killing a first grader on a South Carolina playground when he was 14 is asking a judge to lessen his sentence so he can eventually get out of prison.

Jesse Osborne's lawyer asked Judge Lawton McIntosh on Monday to reconsider his sentence so Osborne, now 21, could have some hope of freedom in his 50s or 60s.

Attorney Frank Eppes said the judge didn't fully consider a psychologist's report that Osborne's lashed out because of abuse and can be rehabilitated.

“Give Jesse some hope to live with,” Eppes said at a televised court hearing.

Osborne himself asked for a chance at life outside a prison cell, apologizing to the family of 6-year-old Jacob Hall who he killed and everyone at the school that day.

“I would just like to say sorry to every single one of them. Because my evil actions hurt their lives,” Osborne said. “I’m just going to try to better myself in the Department of Corrections the rest of my life.

But the teacher whose class was having recess, the parent of a wounded child, the father of the student celebrating his birthday, the superintendent who saw the bloodstained class rug and the school principal all said at Monday's hearing at the Anderson County Courthouse that they don't want to ever see Osborne out of prison.

Principal Denise Fredericks recognized Osborne as he paced outside Townville Elementary School with a backpack full of ammunition for 12 minutes after his gun jammed before police arrived to arrest him. Osborne had been a student there for seven years.

“I do wish Jesse a life where he can wake up, breathe, eat, work, be productive — but not outside the walls of a prison,” Fredericks said. “In my opinion, his current sentence is still so, so much more merciful than the sentence he gave to Jacob and our school family.”

Prosecutors said Hall's family didn't wish to speak in court but want Osborne to never be released from prison.

Osborne is serving two life sentences after pleading guilty. Before opening fire at the school on Sept. 28, 2016, he shot and killed his father while he slept in a recliner, kissed his rabbit and other pets goodbye, then stole his dad's truck and drove to his former elementary school, according to Osborne's confession.

Osborne crashed his truck into the school fence and fired at the first grade class celebrating a classmate's birthday at recess. Hall bled to death from a gunshot to his leg. Two other student and a teacher suffered minor injuries.

Uneaten cupcakes with the Batman logo could still be seen on the ground inside police tape hours after the shooting.

“My son hates his birthday now,” father Jeff Bernard told the judge.

Prosecutors said Osborne wanted to kill dozens but he was carrying the wrong ammunition and his gun jammed after every shot.

“He didn’t stop because he wanted to. The gun jammed. Thank God the gun jammed,” Fredericks said.

Osborne's lawyer said a video call he had open to a group chat with people who knew his plan showed him sobbing, upset and ready to give up after the first shots.

Osborne is asking the judge to consider a supplemental report from a psychologist that disagrees with prosecution experts who testified at Osborne's original sentencing that he is a dangerous and pathological liar with no remorse.

Osborne's brain was sill developing in his teens. The psychiatrists cited by the defense said he has shown guilt and grief and responded to treatment during the nearly seven years since his arrest on school grounds.

Osborne's lawyer suggested a 30-year minimum sentence for the two counts of murder, followed by 15 years for shooting at the other children and then lifetime monitoring by GPS after he is released from prison with one review after 10 years.

McIntosh asked for a detailed report from the defense expert in the next month and told prosecutors they would have at least 10 days to respond.

A number of students never returned to the school after the shooting. Some haven't returned to any school. A popped balloon ended a school dance in tears. Recess is still filled with anxiety, said teacher Meghan Hollingsworth, whose class was celebrating the birthday that day. Her child was in kindergarten just down the hall.

"The screams of children having fun sends a panic through me as I look to see who is screaming and see if they are OK," she said.

She asked the judge to think about a sign in her first grade classroom and uphold his life sentence handed down more than three years ago,

“You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choices,” it reads.

[ausetkmt]

A statue of Emmett Till is unveiled in Mississippi : NPR

Emmett Till's statue reflects the afternoon sun, during its unveiling on Friday in Greenwood, Miss.

Rogelio V. Solis/AP

GREENWOOD, Miss. — Hundreds of people applauded — and some wiped away tears — as a Mississippi community unveiled a larger-than-life statue of Emmett Till on Friday, not far from where white men kidnapped and killed the Black teenager over accusations he had flirted with a white woman in a country store.

"Change has come, and it will continue to happen," Madison Harper, a senior at Leflore County High School, told a racially diverse audience at the statue's dedication. "Decades ago, our parents and grandparents could not envision that a moment like today would transpire."

The 1955 lynching became a catalyst for the civil rights movement. Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, insisted on an open-casket funeral in Chicago so the world could see the horrors inflicted on her 14-year-old son. Jet magazine published photos of his mutilated body, which was pulled from the Tallahatchie River in Mississippi.

The 9-foot (2.7-meter) tall bronze statue in Greenwood's Rail Spike Park is a jaunty depiction of the living Till in slacks, dress shirt and tie with one hand on the brim of a hat.

The rhythm and blues song, "Wake Up, Everybody" played as workers pulled a tarp off the figure. Dozens of people surged forward, shooting photos and video on cellphones.

Anna-Maria Webster of Rochester, New York, had tears running down her face.

"It's beautiful to be here," said Webster, attending the ceremony on a sunny afternoon during a visit with Mississippi relatives. Speaking of Till's mother she said: "Just to imagine the torment she went through — all over a lie."

This undated portrait shows Emmett Louis Till, who was kidnapped, tortured and killed in the Mississippi Delta in August 1955 after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman working in a store. AP Photo/AP hide caption

"But you, know, change has a way of becoming slower and slower," said Thompson, the only Black member of Mississippi's current congressional delegation. "What we have to do in dedicating this monument to Emmett Till is recommit ourselves to the spirit of making a difference in our community."

The statue is a short drive from an elaborate Confederate monument outside the Leflore County Courthouse and about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the crumbling remains of the store, Bryant's Grocery & Meat Market, in Money.

The statue's unveiling coincided with the release this month of "Till," a movie exploring Till-Mobley's private trauma over her son's death and her transformation into a civil rights activist.

The Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., the last living witness to his cousin's kidnapping, wasn't able to travel from Illinois for Friday's dedication. But he told The Associated Press on Wednesday: "We just thank God someone is keeping his name out there."

He said some wrongly thought Till got what he deserved for breaking the taboo of flirting with a white woman, adding many people didn't want to talk about the case for decades.

"Now there's interest in it, and that's a godsend," Parker said. "You know what his mother said: 'I hope he didn't die in vain.'"

Greenwood and Leflore County are both more than 70% Black and officials have worked for years to bring the Till statue to reality. Democratic state Sen. David Jordan of Greenwood secured $150,000 in state funding and a Utah artist, Matt Glenn, was commissioned to create the statue.

Jordan said he hopes it will draw tourists to learn more about the area's history. "Hopefully, it will bring all of us together," he said.

Till and Parker had traveled from Chicago to spend the summer of 1955 with relatives in the deeply segregated Mississippi Delta. On Aug. 24, the two teens took a short trip with other young people to the store in Money. Parker said he heard Till whistle at shopkeeper Carolyn Bryant.

Four days later, Till was abducted in the middle of the night from his uncle's home. The kidnappers tortured and shot him, weighted his body down with a cotton gin fan and dumped him into the river.

Jordan, who is Black, was a college student in 1955 when he drove to the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner to watch the murder trial of two white men charged with killing Till — Carolyn's husband Roy Bryant and his half brother, J.W. Milam.

An all-white, all-male jury acquitted the two men, who later confessed to Look magazine that they killed Till.

Nobody has ever been convicted in the lynching. The U.S. Justice Department has opened multiple investigations starting in 2004 after receiving inquiries about whether charges could be brought against anyone still living.

In 2007, a Mississippi prosecutor presented evidence to a grand jury of Black and white Leflore County residents after investigators spent three years re-examining the killing. The grand jury declined to issue indictments.

The Justice Department reopened an investigation in 2018 after a 2017 book quoted Carolyn Bryant — now remarried and named Carolyn Bryant Donham — saying she lied when she claimed Till grabbed her, whistled and made sexual advances. Relatives have publicly denied Donham, who is in her 80s, recanted her allegations. The department closed that investigation in late 2021 without bringing charges.

This year, a group searching the Leflore County Courthouse basement found an unserved 1955 arrest warrant for "Mrs. Roy Bryant." In August, another Mississippi grand jury found insufficient evidence to indict Donham, causing consternation for Till relatives and activists.

Although Mississippi has dozens of Confederate monuments, some have been moved in recent years, including one relocated in 2020 from the University of Mississippi campus to a cemetery where Confederate soldiers are buried.

The state has a few monuments to Black historical figures, including one honoring civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer in Ruleville.

A historical marker outside Bryant's Grocery has been knocked down and vandalized. Another marker near where Till's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River has been vandalized and shot. The Till statue in Greenwood will be watched by security cameras.

Jordan won applause when he said Friday: "If some idiot tears it down, we're going to put it right back up."

[dankusner]

Houston Judge Kelli Johnson has docket reassigned after DWI arrest

Top judicial leadership in Houston have effectively removed hundreds of pending cases from state district Judge Kelli Johnson and assigned them to other jurists in the wake of two recent DWI stops — one on June 25 that led to her arrest — and a judicial complaint filed by her court reporter.

The reassignment of her docket, which officials said was finalized this week in an order to be filed Thursday, happened after the Democratic judge, who is seeking re-election in November, went to work at the criminal courthouse but failed to preside on the bench.

The order, signed by Judge Latosha Lewis Payne, Harris County's local administrative judge, and Judge Susan Brown, a governor-appointee for the Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, comes in the wake of her arrest on a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge.

The rare move to reassign cases strips the elected judge of her ability to preside over her docket without the State Commission on Judicial Conduct having to suspend her.

A statement from Amanda Cain, spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the District Courts, noted that Johnson remains the elected official over that court.

She could not provide a timeline on how long those cases would be handled by visiting judges.

Johnson did not address the docket change in a Wednesday night phone call from the courthouse but said she did not know about the judicial complaint.

In an unsolicited Facebook message to a Chronicle reporter in the early hours Wednesday, Johnson derided the decision to remove her docket and disparaged Brown as a "political hack."

"I have more time this week since Susan f—ing Brown decided to take away MY dockets," she wrote.

She also had choice words for another judge, Robert Johnson, who presides in the 177th District Court — also on the 19th floor. Johnson confirmed she sent the message in a followup call.

“He sucks by the way and f—ed with the wrong person — me,” Johnson wrote. “I just know he is a complete despicable and unconscionable a—."

Cain said she was unaware of any issue between Kelli Johnson and Robert Johnson.

Brown declined to comment, while the judge in the 177th could not be reached.

As of June, Johnson, a former prosecutor elected in 2016, had about 1,055 cases pending in her court — lower than the average of other court dockets, county records show.

Other judges, at least two elected, handled victim impact statements this week for a capital murder case, plea agreements and other docket matters in Johnson's court as she remained in her chambers.

As other judges worked Monday morning, she appeared briefly at times in the doorway to her chambers to beckon her court staff to the back to speak with her.

She also spoke with a Chronicle reporter that Monday in her chambers, where she had a blank desk and wall calendar from June.

She took several weeks off that month and in May following her first traffic stop in April.

She last took the bench Friday, Cain said, when a man convicted of murder in the death of his wife turned himself in to serve 10 years in prison.

Gail Rolen, a court reporter who has worked for Johnson since 2017 and was a constant presence on high-profile trials, said she filed her complaint with the commission against the judge this month because of “a hostile work environment due to incidents related to the traffic stops” and other unprofessional behavior she witnessed.

She said the unspecified behavior prompted her to take a leave of absence through the Family and Medical Leave Act.

“I had to file a judicial complaint in order to protect the integrity of the judicial system and the citizens who have voted for her as well as defendants in her court and their attorneys,” Rolen said.

She said the decision this week to assign visiting judges to Johnson’s court was “absolutely necessary and crucial.”

“It’s the least they can do right now until the judicial board is able to take action, if they do,” she continued.

Johnson did not preside over her court for several weeks following the April 12 traffic stop that coincided with a capital murder bench trial.

A sergeant with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office witnessed her driving recklessly and pulled her over for a DWI investigation, according to audio from his body-worn camera.

Another deputy concluded she likely had been drinking that night but not to the level to merit her arrest.

Johnson identified herself as a judge during the traffic stop and told the deputies that the harrowing nature of the trial involving defendant Brian Coulter and the 2021 death of a child had taken a toll on her.

She was let go with a verbal warning.

Driving while intoxicated offenses is among out-of-court misconduct that the judicial commission can consider for disciplinary actions.

One of the last suspensions of a Harris County judge followed his arrest on a misdemeanor charge.

[aqua-aid-atlas-911]

Heartland Storms Cause Minor Water Damage to Adair County Courthouse

Leak in Judge's Office Prompts Contractors to Assess Damage

The recent heavy rainfall in the Heartland region has taken its toll on the Adair County Courthouse, resulting in minor water damage. Despite the recent renovation that the courthouse underwent, including the installation of new windows, a leak was discovered in Judge Kristie Swaim's office. Adair County Presiding Commissioner Mark Shahan has already taken steps to address the issue and is in contact with contractors to assess the damage.

Assessing the Damage and Planning Repairs

Adair County Presiding Commissioner Mark Shahan stated that the water damage was minimal and primarily caused by a leak through one of the windows in Judge Swaim's office. Shahan has promptly reached out to contractors to schedule an inspection and determine the necessary repairs. Despite the recent $8 million renovation, which included the installation of new windows, Shahan remains confident that the issue can be resolved swiftly.

A Minor Setback in the Wake of Renovations

The Adair County Courthouse recently underwent a comprehensive $8 million renovation, aimed at modernizing the historic building. The renovation included the installation of new windows throughout the courthouse. However, the recent storm revealed a minor setback, as water managed to find its way into Judge Swaim's office. While the damage is minimal, it highlights the ongoing need for regular maintenance and vigilance in preserving the integrity of the courthouse.

Prioritizing Timely Repairs

Although the exact timeline for the contractors' assessment is yet to be determined, Shahan emphasized the importance of addressing the issue promptly. Timely repairs will not only prevent further damage but also ensure the smooth functioning of the courthouse. The Adair County Courthouse serves as a vital hub for the community, housing various administrative offices and courtrooms. Any disruption to its operations could have a significant impact on the local justice system.

Lessons Learned and Future Precautions

The water damage incident serves as a reminder that even with extensive renovations, unforeseen issues can arise. The Adair County Courthouse renovation was intended to enhance the building's structural integrity and improve its functionality. However, it is crucial to remain vigilant in identifying and addressing any potential vulnerabilities. Regular inspections and maintenance should be implemented to prevent future water leaks or other structural issues.

A Testament to Resilience

Despite the minor setback, the Adair County Courthouse remains a symbol of resilience. The recent renovation showcased the community's commitment to preserving its rich history while embracing modernization. The swift response to the water damage incident demonstrates the dedication of Adair County officials to maintaining the courthouse's integrity. Through proactive measures and ongoing maintenance, the courthouse will continue to serve as a pillar of justice for the community.

The recent water damage incident at the Adair County Courthouse highlights the need for ongoing vigilance and maintenance, even after extensive renovations. Despite the minor nature of the damage, Adair County Presiding Commissioner Mark Shahan has taken immediate action by contacting contractors to assess and repair the leak in Judge Swaim's office. This incident serves as a reminder that preserving historical landmarks requires continuous efforts to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

The Adair County Courthouse remains a testament to the community's resilience and commitment to justice.

[foulapricotartisanduck]

😏😏Strong evidence of pure negligence of Philadelphia..

It was once told to Hustle and Flow in Montgomery county courthouse:

😏😏Hustle and Flow throughout the key evidence we found amongst this investigation we as of Montgomery county officials don't believe those authorities from Philadelphia going to do any investigation unless the evidence doesn't fall in your favor, unless the evidence doesn't fall in your favor and this is just a assumption amongst the key evidence we found wake up hustle and flow wake up wake up.......🤔

The same Guy the top floor of (👉Filbert Street🏢 wanted dead🧑‍⚖️) Through One of their 😏criminal organizations they were dealing with..... /murder for hire👮‍♀️🏢🫤👈👈👀👀🚶‍♂️

All premeditated with that government shit...

We Come clean over here in Montgomery County.

CW Daily Briefings!😁👍🏽

[starsnhiseyes]

I got a jury summons right after Christmas that said I had to report on like January 4th and I was like what the fuck I can't do that I don't have time to get off work (technically, no, my employer can't fire me for this, but they CAN be pissed at me and hold it against me that I didnt give them enough notice) but if you respond online then you can defer your service and choose a date that works for you so I chose Valentine's Day because who cares. So I went through the effort of planning my day out tomorrow AND GIVING UP A 7 HOUR SHIFT TODAY because I was scheduled to work until 9:30 pm and to get to the courthouse on time I would have to wake up the next day at 5:30-6 am and I didn't want to do that. So after I went through all this effort the county texted me today to say that I don't have to come tomorrow.

[aproposofouroboros]

The highest court in the land isn't actually the Supreme Court, as you've been lead to believe! After intense research, I believe it to be Lake County Courthouse in Leadville, CO, at an elevation of well over 10,000 ft—much higher than the measly, coastal DC. Wake up, people!

[vidrphotography]

Wake County Justice Center Wedding | Downtown Raleigh, NC

~ Lively courthouse wedding in Downtown Raleigh with a vibrant mural ~

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of photographing Christina and Mariah’s courthouse wedding in Downtown Raleigh. This ceremony was so much fun to capture as the group was quite energetic and excited to experience the union of such a wonderful couple. After the ceremony, we ventured to the Marbles Kids Museum to take some stunning pictures in front of a beautiful mural.

Arriving Downtown

To ensure everyone could be a part of the celebration, Christina and Mariah thoughtfully rented a Sprinter van, allowing the entire wedding party to travel together from the courthouse to the reception venue. This was a great idea and is an awesome tip for those who plan to be at multiple locations on your wedding day. This way everyone arrives at the same time, and it makes parking a whole lot easier! Once everyone arrived at the courthouse, we found out that unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions, not everyone could be present in the courtroom. Luckily Christina and Mariah’s family and friends who couldn’t join during the ceremony were able to wait in a spacious, windowed room while the ceremony took place. We were able to snap a few group shots in this room before heading into the actual courtroom. After the ceremony, we made sure these friends and family were able to get some photos with the newlyweds.

Wake County Courthouse

The wedding day began at the historic Wake County Courthouse, I loved shooting at this courthouse as it really let the couple and their interrogee shine. The venue's charm added a special touch to the ceremony, making it a unique and memorable occasion. The atmosphere inside the courthouse was filled with palpable excitement and anticipation. Luckily, Christina and Mariah were allowed to have their bridal party join them inside the courtroom. Even the magistrate couldn't help but comment on the joyful and spirited nature of this group that Christina and Mariah brought with them. Not only did this energy make for a great wedding but resulted in some wonderful spontaneous shots. One of my personal favorites is Christina and Mariah’s friends and family cheering as the couple shared their first kiss. Having such a vibrant and energetic group of people makes capturing these special moments even easier. It’s clear from these photos how much Christina and Mariah are loved by their friends and family. So much celebration and happiness filled the courtroom during their ceremony, and I was honored to be able to capture it. Its sessions like these I am just thrilled to be able to capture such a special courthouse wedding. Christina, Mariah, and their friends and family were able to keep the energy high and make the time fly by. Being inside a courthouse can feel very serious and even nerve-wracking so it was very important that Christina and Mariah had such a great support system standing with them on their special day.  

Couple Portraits

After the courthouse ceremony, we stopped outside the courthouse to take some portraits before heading to a colorful mural. Upon a first glance you might not expect the outside of the Wake County Justice Center would serve as a great backdrop for some portraits, but it did just that. Luckily the justice center’s grays and beiges allowed for the couple to pop in their white outfits. We were able to capture some shots full of smiles and laughter. I had a lot of fun working with Christina and Mariah during this part of the session. They made it very easy to capture their love and joy as we walked around outside the courthouse.

Downtown Mural at Marbles Kids Museum

Once we were done with the portraits, the newlyweds and their entourage proceeded to the Marbles Kids Museum Mural in downtown Raleigh for some additional photos. This mural had a completely opposite vibe from the courthouse. From the beiges and grays to the vivid reds, blues, and purples from the mural, we were able to capture a wide variety of shots in this session. The mural's bright, vibrant colors perfectly mirrored the day's cheerful atmosphere. This spot turned out to be a fantastic backdrop for capturing the love and energy of the newlyweds and their fabulous crew. At the mural, we were able to capture more photos with those who were unable to attend the ceremony due to the courthouse’s COVID-19 restrictions. The vivid hues of the mural added an extra layer of charm to these photos. This mural is a great gem in Downtown Raleigh and is a perfect spot to take photos.

Vendors

Venue: Wake County Courthouse & Marbles Kids Museum Mural

View more courthouse weddings here.

View more weddings here.

[bluelineblues-blog]

[cw non-Reylo baby]

Rey would have preferred to marry Ben Solo in her hunting kit, down at the modest single-story brick building that served as Espa County’s first courthouse, some ten miles distant in Espa City.

But Leia Organa Solo had stepped off the train, and beseeched her son and his bride to have a ceremony in the chapel of the Whills.

My only child, Leia had murmured, pressing Rey’s hand.

I will pay whatever expense is necessary, she’d promised.

She had the same soft brown eyes as her son, and Rey had acquiesced.

In Mother Maz’s boarding rooms, Leia pulled silk and satin from her trunk. Rey shook her head. “This finery is not who I am,” she protested.

Rose laughed, startling everyone in the room, waking baby Paige. Once the baby was settled on her mama’s lap, Rose pulled a swath of soft yellow cotton from her satchel. “Armie and I thought this would be more to your liking,” she explained.

It was a sensibly-styled floor-length dress. The warm golden yellow was embellished with clusters of leaves and burgundy flowers. The hems at her wrists and neckline bore single ruffles of ivory lace.

“Rose, it’s beautiful,” Rey breathed. As she held the dress up before her, Leia and Maz smiled.

Three days later, Rey rode into town in the early morning to let the women assist her in making ready for the day. She soaked in Rose’s tub until her fingers wrinkled. Leia brushed and braided her hair in the family’s style. Once her dress was done up and her boots polished to a warm shine, Rey glanced at herself in Rose’s mirror.

She looked ... like a bride. Her Ben’s bride.

Because of these people who loved her.

Her heart overflowed with joy.

[fractallogic]

I hate splicing. I hate it. it's not BAD, it's just tedious and repetitive and I just don't want to do it. I hate it.

UNFORTUNATELY these splices are already a week overdue and I told my coauthors an hour ago that I would definitely have them done today. it's not unreasonable to have them done today, it really isn't. it's about three hours of work (less, possibly, if I stop fucking around complaining), it takes minimal brainpower, and while it does take screen-looking-at, it's not as cumbersome as some things are to do them on my lil screen at home instead of the GIANT SCREEN in the office.

I just need to do them.

[antifainternational]

In honor of our 7th anniversary, each day this month we will post one of our favorite antifascist actions from around the world from the past year!

Today: June 19 2020 - Protesters pulled down two bronze statues of Confederate soldiers from the Confederate monument in Raleigh, on Juneteenth. They then hung the statue of a cavalryman by its neck from a streetlight. The other statue, an artilleryman, was dragged through the streets and left at the Wake County courthouse.