This is the judge we had for our parking ticket and landlord cases!

District judge's 'bizarre' conduct probed


Allegations against Maryesther Merlo include absenteeism, mishandling landlord-tenant and truancy cases and abuses of power.
 
from the article:
 the portrait painted in a 33-page complaint issued Nov. 4 by the state Judicial Conduct Board, where Merlo is characterized as "nasty, rude, erratic, strange, bizarre, irrational, unpredictable, yelling, demeaning, babbling, rambling, nutty and crazy."
 
Sounds exactly like what we experienced with her both times.  Tom stood before her to fight a parking ticket (He was unloading for about 2 minutes, with no open spaces on the block, and cars were able to get around him.  Parking authority suggested he move to the alley behind the girls club which would have completely blocked traffic.  We cited an article that had run in the paper saying the parking authority would take circumstances, such as unloading groceries, in consideration and that the idea was to prevent traffic being blocked.  This judge threatened Tom with contempt of court when he attempted to unfold the newspaper article to show it to her.  She didn't want to hear a word he had to say.)  and our whole family went in front of her with the landlord dispute.  I do not understand her behavior-she got upset when Tom didn't understand her legal terminology and refused to explain.  Her logic was interesting-because at one point in time we were hoping to buy the house, it was our responsibility to repair a 30 year old water heater, even though at the time it broke we were no longer buying the house (and as we found out that day, they had apparently tried 4 times to put the sale through but kept getting denied because of the self-employment).  But she ruled that we had to pay the cost of the first repair-even though they had cashed the rent check with a lesser amount for the repair and had advanced warning plus a reminder and never bothered to answer.  Cashing the check would have been legal acceptance of the terms.  We didn't argue because of her bizzare behavior-she did yell out of nowhere and she was a bit scary.  Her behavior extended to our landlords as well, so it wasn't just a prejudice towards us, or for them.  I really hope they get rid of her!  Even if it does us no good, someone like that she not be in the position she is in!
Again, go here to read the full article