Judge Harris' comments spark outrage

'Sadomasochists sometimes like to be beat up,' he says in acquitting domestic violence suspect

By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer

Published 10/18/07

It started when a county police officer saw a man throw three punches through the open door of his girlfriend's car.

Prosecutors thought they had an open-and-shut domestic abuse case.

"Assaults happen all the time, although it is sometimes rare they happen in plain view of a police officer," prosecutor Doug Fisher said in his opening arguments earlier this year.

But when the alleged victim didn't show up in court, Circuit Court Judge Paul Harris said it didn't matter what the officer saw.

"The state is stepping into the shoes of the victim when she obviously doesn't care," the judge said Oct. 3 before acquitting...

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Judge Harris - 2007-10-22 21:28:04

What is truly unacceptable is that Harris ran for election as a Circuit Court judge on a platform of being tough on crime. Harris is a former DEFENSE attorney who probably used similar tactics to get his clients off on charges of domestic violence. To say that the State's Attorney's Office had not proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt in this matter would simply be wrong. According to the article, a police officer witnessed the assault with her own eyes. Apparently Judge Harris needs the victim to come into court and say that she is not a "sadomasichist" before he will find the defendant not guilty. Tough on crime - not in this case. Too bad the voters elected him for a 15yr term.

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David K. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Neutral

DV - 2007-10-22 10:23:02

it is totalling unacceptable for an officer of the court to make such a statement without knowledge of the victim's state of mind...to reason that she may like to get beat up is absurd especially considering the circumstance,being late to pick up her

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V. Davis - Suitland, MD - Karma: Neutral

paul harris ruling - 2007-10-21 00:39:51

Judge Paul Harris is known as a decent family man. He would never put up with deviant behavior. He is a very fair and wise man especially in Family Law. So there must have been a very good reason for his ruling Joe A ,Pasadena

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joseph anarino - pasadena, MD - Karma: Neutral

Domestic Violence - 2007-10-19 17:15:10

Having worked with domestic violence victims for over 8 years, it is not uncommon at all for a victim to be to afraid to come to court. Not only for fear of what the abuser will do to her, but the abusers family, friends, etc. It is a very scary day when a judge makes a statement that the victim could have wanted to be abused. If she did, she would have been in court to say so.

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Lisa S - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Neutral

Domestic Violence - 2007-10-19 13:48:30

Harris is a perfect example of what is wrong with our justice system. It's horrifying that victims are further victimized by the very people who are supposed to be standing up for them. He's not fit to be on the bench with such a mentality.

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Jenn H. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral