THREAD. Callous, infuriating, & illegal. Judge jailed a victim for 2 months (!!), while defendant was on bond. Victim rights advocates & defense attys should unite on BS like this recent case out of Jackson TN. The DA & judge were parties to a false imprisonment conspiracy. 1/7

The only redeeming part is that the CCA delivered a tremendous rebuke of the trial court judge.

Summary: Young victim of a violent crime was scared & confused about the court process, & didn't show up to trial after subpoenaed (this is where a comprehensive DA's... 2/7

...victim advocate would have been helpful...further proof this DA cared more about simply "winning"). Judge issued an arrest warrant for FTA (which is illegal to do in TN for anybody other than a defendant). Later says it was b/c V was a material witness (we DO have a... 3/7

...procedure for placing bond on a material witness, but the DA hadn't followed it properly). Nevertheless, the Judge had one goal--to lock up this young lady & force her to testify. She didn't know about the warrant...it was served on her almost a year later. NO BOND. 4/7

She sat in jail for TWO MONTHS until a local atty successfully challenged this illegal "no bond" practice (which apparently has been going on for a while). On appeal, our State AG @TNattygen, w/ a straight face, argued that an 1858 statute allows a judge to... 5/7

...hold a trial witness w/o bond. CCA disagreed b/c the State was so plainly wrong. Judge could have held V in contempt (terrible practice, but lawful). Or DA could have properly sought material witness bond. But apparently that's too much work, so we have a bully judge &... 6/7

...complicit DA who lock up crime victims w/ no bond.

Perhaps a local journalist can dig in & find all the other hapless victims/witnesses who've been illegally detained over the years in Madison County.

CC: @JSunNews @WBBJ7News @ImaniWilliamstv 7/7.