That was the thread where he vouched for the club and everyone piled up on tatsoul. I do believe.

I have read this whole thread including attachments and commentary. A few thoughts. I think a lot of the people who are outraged don't understand how Rogers v State changed the way night hunting violations were prosecuted. Under Rogers, the State did not have to prove you were hunting. Literally it only required the State to prove you were riding around in Deer country with a gun and a light!! Let me be clear, if I was the Judge I would have found these boys not guilty. But when you understand the Rogers case and how little evidence it took to make a prima facia case of night hunting you realize it's not the scandal this site is making it out to be. Frankly, I think more than a few of you fellers owe the Judge an apology. Any Judge deserves respect even when you think he made a bad decision but especially a Judge who is also an established Aldeer member. How many Judges in this State would have had the nuts to comment at all??? Much less be an actual contributor to Aldeer. Keep in mind that the court of Criminal appeals agreed with both the District Judge and the Circuit Judge. The only way the Supreme Court reversed their decisions was to change the law!! And by the way I have never stepped foot in Lowndes District court and have never met any of the people involved. Congrats to the OP and boys for changing a bad law! That's really something to be proud of.

"especially a judge who is also an Aldeer member".........WOW!......Surely you jest. Being a member of ANY group......masons, Aldeer, baptist, catholic, BASS or Dukes of Hazard Fan Club has ZERO bearing on the conduct of an elected official and most especially one who holds life changing authority with his judgement of an individual. Who's pocket are you in? If you actually believe what you posted and live by that belief you should refrain from voting and/or engaging in politics at any level.

I never said it had any bearing on his conduct. It's about who I respect. I respect Judges. I respect aldeer members. I said and meant the fact he was an aldeerr member meant I had more respect for a man I had never met. True for you as well. Disagree all day but an Internet lynch mob is not called for here if you understand the law he was required to apply to the facts.

well said Wiley

ANT, did you read the part where the judge admitted he didn't know who fired the shot or even if it was a fact thathat a shot was fired? Did you read where he said since he did not have proof on any particular one, he convicted all of them? There are some apologies owed but not to someone who railroaded 3 families and carried out his own corrupt sense of justice.

After reading it all I agree with you. Glad the boys were found innocent but I don't believe most are going to read the opinion and discover how the reversal came about and why.

Ant67, other than the case law precedence you cite, can you explain why this was not thrown out in the beginning as you seem to understand AL law and I do not. I am not being sarcastic. I'm just trying to understand what I see as basic violations of civil rights. I may very well be wrong as AL law is different from my state. However, as a former auxiliary LEO in my state, I see problems with this from the beginning. If I did what the "former game warden" did, when I was active, I would be suspended and likely kicked off the force. I ask as there are civil rights and rules for searches and traffic stops in the US that seem to have been ignored.

This was an illegal traffic stop made by a civilian impersonating an LEO. How is it that a "retired game warden" can stop and detain anyone, if I read correctly, at the gate of private property? I am sure they did not feel free to leave even though he had no right to stop them. How is it that someone who is not active law enforcement is not charged with impersonating an LEO? There seems to be question as to any "reserve deputy" status. I'm just curious. If someone is at the gate of their owned or leased property, where does a non LEO have any right to follow and approach them and make any inquiries? It appears that there are search and seizure issues and any rifle observed would be the result of an illegal search by the time a real LEO arrived. Please clarify as I just want to understand and you seem to be knowledgeable. Maybe I'm missing something as it was a long post or don't understand some AL law that applies here.

We have a letter from APOSTC that he was NOT a reserve deputy at the time.

I don't think it was the initial decision that is receiving such scrutiny. It is the judges own admission that he didn't know who exactly, if any, were guilty, so he just charged them all. That shows poor judgment at worst and good ol boy corrupt politics at its worst. Why do you think the judge deleted his admission? He knows what he did, he just didn't think us bunch of rednecks would recognize it.

You're an idiot. If you HADN'T read the entire thread and attachments and just respected his elected POSITION I could understand it. Having read the entire thread and seen the "judge's" badly reasoned response and STILL thinking anyone owed the judge an apology paints you as a very foolish individual.

The judge and the Lowndes County Judicial system owes the boys an apology, and they may get that opportunity through the court system. I sincerely hope JWC and the other parents hold the judge's feet to the fire.

Just to clarify, who did what is not necessary in criminal cases. There can be guilt by aiding. What I mean is that if a group of gang bangers drive by and you witness a hand come out and shoot someone.
If the cops stop them down the road and find a gun but all refuse to talk then they can all be charged. Just because they don't know exactly which one did it does not mean they just let them go. Same as if a car gets pulled over with a kilo of cocaine but nobody owns up.

Poor comparison when there was no evidence anyone had even fired a gun, no deer and no witnesses. The judge deleted his comments for a reason. He, and most others, know why.

It was an illegal traffic stop by someone impersonating an LEO. By the time the real LEO arrives there is no PC for a search to discover rifle. It is fruit of the poisonous tree.

As much as I think an initial injustice was done, nothing will be done to the judge over this case no matter who you file a complaint against. I've seen much more egregious decisions where nothing is done. Judges get reversed all the time. that humiliation is the only spanking he'll get.

Aldeer and any other form of publicity will do him more harm than any complaints.

I'm glad they were found innocent! The retired GW and the Judge are a disgrace to LE and the court system. The GW strait violated those boys civil rights and he should face punishment.

Which is why his initial explanation should be used to start a FB page and shared with every single person in Alabama. Any future political aspirations and elections could be impacted if enough light is shown in this. I still think an ethics complaint should be made, but media is where you get the best results, using his own words against him.

Don't give these jokers any business either.

https://www.thesouthernlandbrokers.com/blog/the-hunting-judge/

Still waiting on an explanation or clarification from legal scholars who seem to know.

Let's get Megyn Kelly down here for this. And other reasons too