Rubashkin and our co-dependency

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In the treatment of addictions one must usually also deal with a by-product of the illness called "co-dependency".
What that means is, besides for the addict and his illness, those closest to addict start assuming roles over time that help them adapt to and often facilitate living with an addict.
So for instance the wife of an alcoholic will start adapting her whole psyche to her reality and will learn to accept the inevitable abuse until it reaches a point when she almost needs it. This is the purpose of al-anon support groups to help co-dependents regain normal behavior.

Sometimes when I observe our communities response to certain events I can't help and wonder if we're suffering from co-dependency.
For thousands of years we've been living with a sick partner. We've been hounded and abused by a gentile world that operated in a system un-civility and unfettered power and we were at their absolute mercy.
But I believe we've also, to some degree, become co-dependents. It's almost like we need the abuse. Like our eyes light up at the slightest signal of anti-semitism. It's our comfort zone.
We all know that it says Halacha Biyedua..Esav Sonei L'Yaakov. But what kind of Halacha is it? Is it in Shulchan Orech?
No..of course not. It's Agadda. It's the part of the Torah that does not mandate action.
If it says that before Moshiach comes Chutzpa will rule. Does that mandate us to act with impudence?
It also says that the Messianic era will usher in a universal era of peace among nations. Can't this Agadda trump the first one?

Yes, there is anti-semitism and always will be. True anti-semitism must be rooted out and dealt with.
But this knee jerk reaction and hand wringing leaves me with no other theory but the one I just expounded.

I wish our community would focus more on the personal side of our beautiful religion. The personal relationships with Hashem that every person can attain in any circumstance that they're in.
Leave the cosmic affairs to Hashem.
Focus on the Halachas of the Shulchan Orech instead of fretting over the Halacha B'yedua....

What prompted this is the sad affair of the Rubashkin case.
It's a Kafkaesque nightmare. Yes people are human and they transgress and do bad things, but to be caught in such an unforgiving system is horrible.

Having said that, I'm absolutely appalled by things that I'm hearing.
This judge is known for her strict robotic style and her unforgiving sentences and has left a trail of hurt victims in her wake.
No Rubashkin is not the first and most likely not the last. To hear the words Anti-Semitism leveled at her is another manifestation of this co-dependency I described above.

Let me copy and paste from a website where people post comments and reviews of judges.
Here are comments about Judge Reade before the Rubashkin case.

Dominated by her insecurities. Can be very rude and perfunctory. Seems to take pleasure in trying to embarrass criminal defense attorneys even in front of the jury. A judge to avoid if at all possible.


Proof that standards for the federal bench are pretty low. Reade acts like a secretary who's been asked to take over the boss' desk for the day -- and the status has gone to her head.


Insecurities rule. Invokes fear not respect.


Exceptional harsh sentencer - very pro goverment - they win everything



Between Linda Reade and the USPO, I feel like there are 3 prosecutors in the room. She clearly despises CJA lawyers and PDs - perhaps she thinks we're bottom feeders who can't get any other kinds of cases? And she makes no effort to hide it... It's very discouraging.



Reade manages by indimatation and fear. Acts like the whole courthouse and world revolves around her. Makes snaps judgments without getting the facts and then when the facts proove her wrong she ignores them and never admits she is wrong.


She is far and away the most unpleasant judge that I have practiced in front of. She does not appear to enjoy her position, and has no inclination to make tough decisions protecting the civil rights of clients.



Is a puppet for the Department of Injustice. Post Booker has never exercised her discretion to vary on behalf of a defendant- thus creating a defacto unconstitutional sentencing scheme. Does whatever a AUSA wants her to do - she isl ike a 2nd prosecutor in the courtroom...loves law enforcement- neither they not the US Attorneys can do any wrong - a total rubberstamp for the prosecutors.



Insecurties drive her rudeness and downright hostility towards lawyers. Totally inflexible and closed minded. Elevates form over substance. Not an once of energy directed to being fair. Imperial attutude, a poor excuse for a federal judge.



In sentencing ALWAYS does what the prosecution wants. Never varies and exercises independent judicial discretion or judgement. Ignores the command of Booker to actually apply the 3553(e) factors and reduce a sentence - not even once in a blue moon. I am sure Ashcroft and Gonzales text her what to do in sentencings. She is brutally mean and totally lacks compassion for any defendant. A judicial disgrace.



This judge takes the easy way out when sentencing for drug offenses; meaning, instead of considering cases on individual basis, she delivers the maximum punishment. She's putting the wrong people in prison because she's too lazy to really examine the evidence.



It appears this judge passes judgement literally before trials ever begin. From what I've read below, there is no justice with Judge Reade - only sentencing. Sad and disappointing. Perhaps she's forgotten the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and everyone deserves a fair trisl.



I am a retired trial lawyer. This judge is strongly biased in favor of the government. There is no way that she is acceptable in a criminal case. I witnessed her wrath on a young drug user and she gave him 35-plus years. This is outrageous and she should be impeached.




This really makes me worried. I have a case coming before this judge. The police have already lied about the facts - and now I find out that the judge is biased? What is a person to do? Does anyone know the feeling of having no hope or confidence in the legal system? It is a very bad feeling. I wonder if this is how monsters are made.



She is the worst judge and prides herself upon her ability to ruin families. She sentenced a first-time drug offender to 17-plus years. Letters of recommendations? What do those mean? They don't help. PSI? What is that? That doesn't help. She only focuses on the crime and not the person and the crime. She should not be a judge -- maybe a prison guard. She is hateful and needs to be removed from the bench.




One size fits all for Judge Reade and that's the maximum. She has no compassion for a family that is being ripped apart for years due to the illness of addiction. Someone with that kind of power, control, and pure hatred should not be a decision maker over people’s lives. I wish for 1 day she had to walk in prisoner’s shoes after she’s sentenced them

Then the Rubashkin trial started and all the comments deal with this case.

she is probably one of the worst judges in the world! SHE IS HORABLE AND SHOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY!



I am shocked at her cruelty and lack of justice. An awful person who should be impeached as judge. Yimach Shima.



BITCH!!!!



She is a peice of dung!!



ANTI SEMITE



THEIR ARE BAD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AND SHE SURE SHOULD BE PUT ON THE LIST OF THE TOP 10 I BELIEVE THEIR IS A GOD ON THE WORLD AND HE WILL PAY HER OFF FOR ALL SHE DID FOR ALL THE PEOPLE SHE HARMED JUST TO FILL UP HERE EVIL BAD DESIRES IM SURE SHE IS HERSELF A BIG CRIMINAL AND WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR THE DAY SHE SHOULD ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH NO ON THE DEFENSE SIDE NOBODY ON THE WORLD LIKES YOU AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE THE DAY THE REAL JUSTICE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU



This anti-Semitic judge should be impeached.



Really disgusting biased judge!!! hopefully one day she will stand her day in court for not granting proper justice!!!


I hope you do not get the chance to read this letter as you should already be dead.You are the biggest criminal in the world. You judge an innocent man to a horrible sentenece, which is unfair, unjust, cruel, and disgusting. How in the world are you going to live with yourself!?!? There are no words to describe your despicable actions. Your family should definitely consider a mental home for you. I would request of you to rethink your judgement, however I don't know if I can make such a request of an animal.


Since she has no respect for human life and dignitu, may she be cursed to 27 years of pure hell starting today! Amen



THIS IS A JUDGE WHO IS BIASED AND ANTISEMITIC SHE IS UNCOMPROMISING AND SINGS TO HER OWN TUNE!!
NOT A VERY NICE ONE AND THATS MY JUDGEMENT!! HER JUDGEMENT IS YET TO COME

I rest my case.


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