Judge Steelman Was Unfairly Criticized In Handling Of School Bus Driver Rape Case - And Response

  • Wednesday, July 27, 2016
We are blessed to have freedom of speech in our society, but I am always amazed at the number of folks who voice such strong antagonistic opinions about things without any apparent first-hand knowledge.   As any who wish to criticize the system should know, people get arrested and charged for criminal offenses every day.  The ultimate charge and penalty which results can vary greatly depending on many factors. 
 
In other words, the proof necessary to initially charge a criminal defendant is substantially less than that burden required to get a conviction.  The facts of this case must have been an issue in order to justify the reduction of the penalty and criminal offense. 
 
The news media reports snippets of an event.
Their job is to create headlines that get noticed. I doubt anyone from the media was even present during the entry of this plea.
 
Judge Barry Steelman asked several questions about the factual basis of the offense for the plea and justification for such a reduction.  The terms of any plea agreement are worked out between the prosecutor and the defendant.  In that scenario, the judge's role is to either accept or deny the proposed agreement.  In this case, the judge accepted a proposed agreement made between the prosecutor and the defendant based on a number of factors. 
 
If Judge Steelman had rejected the plea, the state may have had to dismiss the case entirely if proof problems dictated.   Under that scenario, the criminal defendant would have had no supervision and not been required to register as a sex offender.  The prosecutor's role is to protect the community, but the judge's role is to balance the rights of the criminal accused with the rights of the citizens as represented by prosecutors.
 
Judge Steelman didn't set the sentence. Judge Steelman only determines the sentences for those after a conviction at trial or those who plead to an offense with no agreed sentence in place.  That is how our justice system works.  It usually is pretty messy to watch, but it is the best we have. 

I have had the pleasure of practicing before Judge Steelman since he first took the bench when Judge Meyer retired.  First of all, Judge Steelman is an excellent jurist as well as a caring supportive member of our community.   That someone would have the audacity to question whether Judge Steelman would make the same decision based on whether he had a daughter is so appalling to me.  It is a distressing statement born of ignorance that has no place in civilized discourse.
 
Further, the tenets of judicial conduct don't allow Judge Steelman to comment on matters such as this.  I would hope a responsible citizen who cares about the safety of our community would become educated and knowledgeable about a subject before commenting in a derogatory way about the family life of a public official.

Attorney Lorrie Miller

* * *

I have watched Judge Steelman for the last 20 years.  I watched him from the courtroom during the Lindsey Green ( a four-year-old child) murder case. I had no personal interest in the case. I was just upset about the child being killed in North Chattanooga.  He was the ADA on the case. 

After that case I have followed his career.  It is above and beyond being fair and doing his job, be in court or on the bench.  I am proud of his work. 

If I ever had someone to appear before Judge Steelman,  I know it would be fair.  Remember the judge's job is to not make law, but render the fair and just decision based on the evidence.

Margaret Chastain

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