Judge Jim Payne and quality journalism
Tim Evans of the Indianapolis Star did excellent reporting for Sunday's Indianapolis Star, detailing the personal problems of Department of Child Services' boss Jim Payne and his penchant for overstepping his considerable authority.
This is the sort of journalism that defines a great daily -- gutty yet nuanced, fair yet tough.
For years, Payne has had a rep as a dictatorial sort of guy. My limited experience was his determination to shutter the Children's Guardian Home on the Eastside in Irvington. Friends and aquaintances who worked/volunteered there maintained that Payne had a grudge against the facility, not for any fault of its own doing, but simply because as the Marion County chief juvenile judge, he wanted all the power.
His own story of influence on behalf of his troubled son regarding a thorny child custody case sounds like another case of drastically overstepping his bonds. His own family sounds like it's in a serious mess. Plus, it appears that he was operating on behalf of his son and grandchildren while working as DCS chief, and that he allotted a travel budget for the kids when his own salary was fat.
In short, he's not done a good job of keeping his own house in order.
Ironically, the one time I heard him speak was at a meeting of the Brebeuf Mothers' Club. He was there to lecture on the issue of drunk-driving, with a sort of tough love message thrown in.
Ironically, or not, it's his own adult son who had the DUI charges.
Time to step aside, or the governor should call it a day for him.
Good reporting.
Comments
Now he's gone. I hope they fill his spot with a strong individual. It's one of the toughest jobs in the county.
Yep. He's gone. He should never have been there in the first place.
There will be qualified folks lining up around the block for that job.
By the way, why did he need a state car?
Yep. He's gone. He should never have been there in the first place.
There will be qualified folks lining up around the block for that job.
By the way, why did he need a state car?
Damn I hit "send" too soon..meant to add:
The applicants may be afraid of two words: Mike Pence. But we'll see.
I would just like it if the governor just called it a day.
Comments are closed.
Links
- http://harrisontherecord.wordpress.com/
- http://www.sheilakennedy.net/
- http://hadenoughindy.blogspot.com/
- http://www.indyparking.com/
- http://hoosiergardener.com/
- http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/
- http://sharpwordworks.com/blog/
- http://bradburyhouse.blogspot.com/
- http://www.indianabarrister.com/
- http://captaincritic.blogspot.com/
- http://wakeupnaptown.com/
- http://bartonlawllc.com/
- http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/
- http://www.hoosierpoliticalreport.com/
- http://ipopa.blogspot.com/
- http://www.masson.us/blog/
- http://www.gannettoid.com/
- http://www.howeypolitics.com/
- http://www.indianalawblog.com/
- http://www.poynter.org/
- http://www.editorandpublisher.com/
- http://sadbastards.wordpress.com/
- http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/
- http://www.munciefreepress.com/
- http://www.bilerico.com/
- http://indytaxdollars.typepad.com/
Archives
- May 2013
- Apr 2013
- Mar 2013
- Feb 2013
- Jan 2013
- Dec 2012
- Nov 2012
- Oct 2012
- Sep 2012
- Aug 2012
- Jul 2012
- Jun 2012
- May 2012
- Apr 2012
- Mar 2012
- Feb 2012
- Jan 2012
- Dec 2011
- Nov 2011
- Oct 2011
- Sep 2011
- Aug 2011
- Jul 2011
- Jun 2011
- May 2011
- Apr 2011
- Mar 2011
- Feb 2011
- Jan 2011
- Dec 2010
- Nov 2010
- Oct 2010
- Sep 2010
- Aug 2010
- Jul 2010
- Jun 2010
- May 2010
- Apr 2010
- Mar 2010
- Feb 2010
- Jan 2010
- Dec 2009
- Nov 2009
- Oct 2009
- Sep 2009
- Aug 2009
- Jul 2009
- Jun 2009
- May 2009
- Apr 2009
- Mar 2009
- Feb 2009
- Jan 2009
- Dec 2008
- Nov 2008
- Oct 2008
- Sep 2008
- Aug 2008
- Jul 2008
- Jun 2008
- May 2008
- Apr 2008
- Mar 2008
- Feb 2008
- Jan 2008
- Dec 2007
- Nov 2007
- Oct 2007
- Sep 2007
- Aug 2007
- Jul 2007
- Jun 2007
- May 2007
- Apr 2007
- Mar 2007
- Feb 2007
- Jan 2007
- Dec 2006
- Nov 2006
- Oct 2006
- Sep 2006
- Aug 2006
- Jul 2006
Call me crazy, but:
When someone acts like a thug, and is in a position of power, and that power is over defenseless children's complicated legal/custody/support issues....
That person is certainly the lowest of low lifes.
We all know it's difficult to raise kids these days. And that difficulty does not avoid families whose parent(s) are powerful. Payne wasted a teachable moment, and reverted to his known success level: bully.
He got it because elected judges have absolutely no one to reign them in. Errant judges can get disciplined by the Supreme Court, their fellow judges, and the Bar Association. Never mind. If you pay off the right folks and get slated, you're a judge. Whether you're good or not.
For what it's worth, his Juvey Court replacement, Marilyn Moores, has done a remarkable job without the ego. It's tough on her watch. Lots of human shrapnel over on Keystone. Lots.
She inherited a guard staff that molested kids. A bankrupt budget. A culture of misbehavior and dictatorial management.
Once again, a smart mom saves the day.