Looking weary and a bit rumpled — but sounding contrite — Clerk Magistrate Robert E. Powers stood before a roomful of his fellow clerks, judges, and lawyers at the John Adams Courthouse in Boston on Wednesday and declared, “I’m embarrassed to be here.”
The controversial Cape Cod clerk magistrate was appearing at a hearing before the Committee on Professional Responsibility for Clerks of the Court, making one final push to keep his job.
Comments
While Mr. Powers clearly failed in his responsibilities, a system that takes this long to address an issue like this is also failing in its responsibilities.
"clerk magistrates in Massachusetts hold lifetime appointments". What? How in the world does this policy make ANY sense? If this doesn't embody the corrupt mindset of Massachusetts politics what does? This man acted reprehensibly precisely because he thought he was, with a lifetime position, above reproach. Policies such as this represent contempt for the public as it elevates the preferences of a corrupt political "award" system above any notion of common sense.
Previous comments are spot on, this person should be dismissed, and clerk appointment should (obviously) not be for life.
I am aghast at the suggestion to transfer an abusive hack to Boston Courts! What? He's too nasty and unreliable for Barnstable County, but okay for Boston? Four years of throwing his weight around should be reason enough to take away his lifetime job.
The Catholic church is the model for state government, and when a priest becomes a problem he is transferred to another diocese. Perhaps it is time for a different model (just a suggestion...)?
Why reasign this Magistrate to another court? That is similar to transferring abusive priests from one church to another. Why should another court have to deal routinely abusive and belligerent behaviors in court? Also, this Magistrate failed to process cases in a timely fashion, sometimes instructing clerks to back-date decisions to make it appear he was not falling months behind (in other words he is untruthful); and he arrived hours late to work nearly every day. Why are state employees so reluctant to work 37.5 hours a week. That shouldn't be so hard for them to do.
The Magistrate ought to be fired with work habits and behaviors such as he demonstrated within the work-place. It appears state employees can make the most egregious errors - not coming to work - falsifying time sheets, etc. etc. and there are no consequences: They receive hefty paychecks paid with tax payer dollars.