‘Judge’ Drew seals it: She’s so much better than the rest of us, ya know
"Judge" Melissa Drew
BENTON—The little lady who “made history” in the Second Judicial Circuit by being the only female ever elected by voters to the bench has just given the public another reason to make “history” again—by being the first judge (that we know of) thrown OFF the bench by voters after one term.
Melissa Drew has managed to get the file on her divorce from fellow attorney Bryan Drew sealed. That’s right; sealed, as in the public doesn’t get to see it. At all. Period.
Not like there haven’t been messy divorces in front of “Judge” (at this point we’re using the term lightly) Drew in her almost-four years on the bench. Not like there haven’t been people who have probably told her that there were at least certain aspects of their divorces that would probably do well to be kept from the public—perhaps things that an employer, children or even parents might find out about a divorcing person that could cause grief, consternation and considerable embarrassment—and may have made such a request…which she likely firmly and unequivocally denied.
No, that’s not something that’s available to the rest of us peons…but it’s sure available to a JUDGE.
And the upper echelon of our society and governmental/legislative wonder why us lower-class citizens are so constantly pissed off at them. Helloooooo….why is this judge allowed preferential treatment over those whom she judges?
While in Benton with some time on our hands this afternoon, we thought we’d tool on up a few blocks and check out files in Franklin County’s courthouse, which we don’t have much of an opportunity to otherwise do. The first one that popped into our heads was the Drew divorce, which was filed in February and which we only learned about in early July. We pulled the case number up on the public terminal and requested the file. The deputy clerks there tossed the number around for a few seconds, then came back with the answer that we couldn’t see it, and at first, they couldn’t even tell us why. They had to go to a higher authority to confirm what we already suspected: it was “sealed.”
When we asked them to explain “sealed,” they told us it was impounded per judge’s order.
We asked which judge. We were told it was Judge Kelly. We said there’s no such judge in the Second Circuit. We were told to wait, they’d get their circuit clerk, Donna Sevenski.
Donna, a very pleasant lady, advised that Judge Kelly was actually a judge from the 20th Circuit…out of St. Clair County, part of the triune (St. Clair-Madison-Bond) of counties that forms the “judicial hell-hole” of southern Illinois because of the rampant corruption there.
We realize that a judge, going through a divorce, would have to have a judge from outside the circuit hear the matter…but out of the judicial hell-hole of southern Illinois? Boy, they picked a winner.
To make matters worse, the file wasn’t impounded until Aug. 10…about four days after we put up a post announcing that the Drews were splitting, and that we intended to go examine the file. Gee, wonder what THEY’RE so scared of? It was open to the media all along…until WE took interest in it. Who says we’re just a raggy little paper that doesn’t have a lot of influence in southern Illinois.
So it appears that the voting public really needs to examine the ballot come November 2012…that’s when Melissa Drew is up for retention. The vote, as in the case with all bad judges (and most mediocre ones) should be NO on the ballot. Don’t leave it blank; don’t vote yes. In order to get rid of a judge, the vote must be 60 percent NO. Blanks on that vote give the “yes” votes a better chance, because believe it when we say that the high-and-mighties will be campaigning to retain ALL judges, as they claim it’s a “non-partisan vote” (which is crap…Drew ran as a Democrat, which is why she’s in there in the first place…because Brian Shinkle, former Edwards County state’s attorney, ran on the Republican ticket…and everybody knows why Shinkle isn’t a judge…but Melissa is because she’s NOT Brian Shinkle).
And if you have a divorce in front of “Judge” Drew, maybe you should have the cajones to ask her if she’ll impound your divorce file…because, after all, she had the cajones to ask to have HERS impounded (at least, we think she did…we can’t even learn who asked).
Of course, maybe that’s why Bryan is divorcing her.
Short URL: http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=4699
Posted by Chris Beavers
on Sep 22 2010. Filed under Franklin.
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Why do we let beautiful women like Drew and Palin and Bachman and O’Donnell make us stupid?
I have no idea. But I’ve learned it isn’t just beautiful women that makes you guys stupid. No offense meant.
Because you think with the little head and not the big one!
You need to call me as soon as possible. I have something big
I hate to see this cause I always thought Drew done a good job and Id hate to be a defendant with her in charge.
…well shoot fire, if Bryan’s done with her I’ll be happy to take her to the dance..it would be downright poetic justice to deliver a screwin’ to a judge as opposed to takin’ one from an judge…lol :p
It is not actually uncommon to have a divorce file sealed–as an attorney, I see it all the time
Collectively we’ve been doing this for about three decades now, and we’ve hardly EVER seen it.
@HHANNAH & Russell NY…those were priceless :o:
Just out of curiosity, did Judge Kelly’s order sealing the file include “specific factual findings” to justify the seal?
@Errata: we don’t know. They wouldn’t tell us ANYTHING about it except which judge sealed it and what date.
The Drews had better watch out. If this gets to eating on us much more than what it is, we might call our attorney and see what we can file to have it opened…it’s in the public interest, you know. Our tax dollars pay for the court in which they appear. Our tax dollars pay her salary. I can go on and on all day about how it’s of specifically high interest to the public good, and I don’t care WHICH judge it is out of WHAT hellhole…sometimes, it’s just worth it to put up a fight.
@admin…I don’t thin it’s such a rare thing or an oddity to ask that a divorce be sealed. Most people really don’t care one way or the other. I didn’t.
My ex asked the court to seal our divorce records…way back when and, I do mean…way back. I always thought he did it because he didn’t want anybody nosing around to see what he DIDN’T give me, more than what he did. I didn’t want what wsa rightfully his and felt that I was more than capable of taking care of myself and my kids. Guess I’m kind of funny that way. We remained the best of friends.
@Admin…why do I get in such a hurry…and leave off letters…I meant… “I DON’T THINK”. Guess it’s because I am in hurry that I do it.
I don’t really know the details here, but the presumption is definitely in favor of keeping files open. Also, there are specific things the judge must do before sealing a file, and I’d be interested to know if he (she?) did them in this case.
And you are entitled to see the order which sealed the file. I’d raise some hell if they kept that from me…
I tried to get see files of my ex’s DUI case in Jackson County as it also stated that she had illegal drugs in her possession. As soon as I was handed the file, I was reading all of this very helpful information and right then and there it was snatched out of my hands and I was told it was sealed. I think it has something to do with her last name and her father’s political affiliation but I can’t be sure. Can any type of file be sealed?
You know…that ain’t right. If it’s available when they hand it to you, only a jUDGE can ‘remove’ it from your hands. That’s just repugnant. You know, if there were any kind of media there covering things like we do, that crap would have dried up LONG ago, and those PUBLIC SERVANTS would be in FEAR of what the local papers might write if they made a screwup like that…but all the media outlets there are just wussies. And anyone at the Southern probably doesn’t care that much…gotta defer to the ‘higher powers.’
I was thinking the same thing. It was no big deal though. She just tried to commit vehicular homocide and had it reduced to a DUI. I’m sure their was not any good stuff in that file anyway.
I just picked paperwork from Madison County showing she is at it again and was charged for Unlawful Discharge of a Deadly Weapon and arrested and jailed for firing a pistol at her fiancee’ only to have it dismissed pro solle or something latin sounding. At least they gave me a copy of the charges. I didn’t have the balls to ask for the case file. It is Madison county and her newest husband is an attorney there.
She’s just trying to kill men that she is pissed off at. That would be embarrassing to her family if it ever got out. Well, it did once…..and it was. So you gotta kind of understand why they might seal these files. I could be hurtful to others and there would have to be press releases called explaining that these “demons” have been chasing her all of her life and they will try to help her all they can. The help ain’t helping though.
We’ll see how she is treated in Saline County real soon for her latest charges there, and Williamson even sooner for her latest charges there.
I expect everyone will be fair and be glad to let you guys see these new case files. I hope so as I am the “one” that she is pissed off at now and we see what happens when she gets that way.