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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Judge Sends Honor Student to Jail for Missing School

A Houston-area teenager has been jailed and fined for missing school by a judge who hopes to make an example of her. 17-year-old Diane Tran is working two jobs while taking advanced placement and dual credit courses at Willis High School in Willis, Texas. Some mornings, she is simply too exhausted to make it to school on time. Some days she misses classes altogether.

She was warned by Judge Lanny Moriarty in April not to miss any more school. When she missed school again last week, he sentenced her to 24 hours behind bars and a $100 fine.

“If you let one of ‘em run loose, what are you gon’ do with the rest of ‘em, let them go too?” the judge offered as justification.

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5 comments:

lmclain said...

That stupid stupid judge. Houston, with one of the highest dropout rates in the country, largely due to black students dropping out, couldn't find a better example of a tardy/absent student than THIS?! He should have held an award ceremony. What a jerk. TWO jobs, advanced placements and dual credit courses, and an HONORS student, too? I guess he wanted to show other youngsters that actually trying to make something of yourself was too much of a Republican ideal to allow to root among the other teenagers. He might consider going back to school himself (maybe she could tutor him) to learn proper grammar and pronuciation.

Anonymous said...

The judge should be going after the parents! They are the one that left their children in this situation. He was quick to judge this young lady and the parents walk away free and clearn. Why haven't they been charged with abandonment or something. You just can't up and leave your under age kids when you feel like it!

Anonymous said...

Not sure what the qualifications for Justice of the Peace in Texas are, but I doubt sincerely the "judge"'s legal skills are envied. His logic and compassion are wanting as well.
Hope she goes on to law school, then sues his butt off for cruel and unusual punishment.

Anonymous said...

At the risk of being flamed, I think the judge has a point. The law should apply equally to the high and the low (or the honor student and the sweathog as it were.)

Anonymous said...

Well, 12:30, and I do not want to flame here, using the judge's logic, can you possibly imagine the number of students in this school class only (sweathogs) that would have to be put in jail tonight? One would have to make the school the actual jail, as there is probably not enough room at the crossbar hotel!