Tag: judicial accountability
Corruption / Court Corruption / Family Court / Judges / Judicial / The Corruption Series / Thunder's Wall of Shame

Kemler the Quitter: When Judges Walk Away From the Damage They’ve Done

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Judge Lisa B. Kemler’s upcoming retirement in 2025 is viewed by some in Virginia’s legal community as graceful, but many families feel abandoned by her decisions. Her tenure contributed to a failing system, leaving victims unprotected and families fractured. Her exit symbolizes a troubling trend of judges avoiding accountability, prioritizing profit over justice.

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Accountability / Broken Bench Series 1 / Government / Judges / Judicial / Legislation / Politics / Series / transparency / Voting

Broken Bench Series 1: The Silent Crisis of Judicial Appointments

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Virginia citizens have lost the right to elect judges, transforming judicial selection into a secretive system dominated by political insiders. This undermines accountability and democratic representation, with significant implications for civil rights and community health. A movement is growing to restore popular elections and empower citizens in judicial processes.

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Circuit Court / Family Court / Government Waste / Judges / Judicial

Feeding From the System: Judge Harry Storm’s Retirement Gig Exposes the Real Engine Behind Family Court Corruption

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Judge Harry Storm’s retirement marks not an end to injustice but a transition to a lucrative role in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), where he profits from family distress. This illustrates a broader issue: family courts prioritize profit over justice, perpetuating a system that undermines due process and exploits vulnerable families.

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Corruption / Court Corruption / Judges / Judicial / The Corruption Series / Virginia / Virginia Watch

The Quiet Exodus: Why Virginia Judges Like Lisa B. Kemler Are Retiring Early

- by Michael Phillips - 1 Comment

In 2025, Virginia experiences a wave of early judicial retirements led by Judge Lisa B. Kemler, raising concerns about the judiciary’s future. Factors include better pay in private dispute resolution, declining public trust, overwhelming backlog pressures, fear of accountability, and pension incentives. This trend highlights a broken judicial system needing reform.

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Campaigns / Judicial / Legislation / Politics

Maryland and Virginia Need Their Own TRUST Act: It’s Time to Pull Back the Curtain on Judicial Bias

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Texas has introduced the TRUST Act to enhance judicial transparency by requiring judges to disclose financial contributions from parties appearing in their courts. This initiative addresses concerns over bias due to political contributions, aiming to restore public confidence in the legal system. Maryland and Virginia should adopt similar measures to ensure fairness and accountability in their judiciary.

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Government / Judges / Judicial / Laws / Legislation / Money and Finance

Maryland and Virginia Need Their Own TRUST Act: It’s Time to Pull Back the Curtain on Judicial Bias

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Texas’ TRUST Act mandates judges disclose campaign contributions and financial support from parties appearing in court, enhancing transparency and restoring public faith in the judicial system. Maryland and Virginia lack similar transparency measures, raising concerns about bias and favoritism. Introducing a TRUST Act in these states would promote fairness and accountability.

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Circuit Court / Family Court / Judges / Judicial

The Revolving Door Spins Again: Judge Harry Storm Retires Into the Same Broken System He Helped Create

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Judge Harry C. Storm’s retirement in 2025 marked his transition from the Montgomery County Circuit Court to a role in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at The McCammon Group. This move reflects a continuation of a justice system focused on procedural efficiency rather than true constitutional rights, further entrenching existing flaws in court governance.

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