Michael James, outside the Hamilton County comission room after an oration, is studying the law so he can defend himself from abusive police and courts. (Photo David Tulis)
Judge Winston Webb gives no reason why he must impede coverage of the Michael James case in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., city court.
City court judge Winston Webb, left, is part of the 2018 swearing in of Fort Oglethorpe councilwoman Paula Stinnett, left. (Photo Adam Cook, Walker County Messenger, Catoosa County News)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024— Winston Webb is a municipal judge in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., just south of the Georgia line from Chattanooga. Twice he’s had before him an uppity black — “that nigger” as one city cop calls him — Michael James, a model of American dignity and prescient defiance of commercial government. (1)
Judge Webb today denies a reporter’s request to use “laptop to make hearing record, cell phone as camera, cell phone # 2 as audio recorder” on behalf of Copperhead Radio and Tulis Report. The form used to deny the request is “Request to use a recording device pursuant to rule 11 on recording of judicial proceedings.” He states no reason or grounds.
The court is proud on its website, saying it “provides transparent, timely, and equal service to all who encounter the court while maintaining a high level of efficiency and accountability.”
Mr. James’ case involves racial profiling, perjury by the arresting officer Shandi Hall, his jailing in Catoosa County and extradition on a bogus Henry County, Ga., arrest warrant to a second Georgia jail, and lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The last is a legal hurdle that prevents any other matter from being looked at until the state solicitor establishes the court’s authority to hear the state’s allegations of a crime. Mr. James is a Chattanooga truck driver jealous of a good name and clean legal record, the blighting of which affects his employment behind the wheel.
Mr. James is unbending on “no subject matter jurisdiction,” and says he will show up “by special appearance” for what Judge Webb indicated earlier is a trial.
Mr. James had put the arrestimg officer on the stand at a loud hearing over his arrest and the case against him. The sound file from this hearing is remarkable.
The court operates to collect fines and court costs, with no real legal work done and real harms and crimes rarely in view. “All I need from you is a guilty plea, a not guilty plea or a request to talk with the solicitor” about a plea deal — this is the judge’s mantra every docket as the citizenry is fleeced, its members glad to get out with a waiver here, a reduction of the fine there. Members of the herd — drawn by arrest under bond or citation — make no resistance, because that’s how Judge Webb wants his public. Docile. Glad of his magnanimity. With the James case a recent major exception, Judge Webb is polite.
No information about his legal background, credentials or career is available online.
Mr. James has filed into the corporation court his objections, including an affidavit that demands the corporation show cause and subject matter jurisdiction.
Mr. James on July 26 filed grievance No. 2024-606 against Judge Webb for judicial malfeasance, denied by the Judicial Qualifications Commission in Marietta. Judicial and lawyer “watchdog” agencies are notoriously lax, often instantly rejecting complaints. Its “erroneous dismissal” prompted Mr. James to object in an Aug. 12 email and to demand forms on which to appeal a negative ruling.
I being a law-abiding citizen submitted 57 pages of documented EVIDENCE and 3 videos to the Director and their JQC investigator McFarland in person on May 14, 2024 at their office of employment in Marietta, Georgia.
I *** clearly state the FACTS and PROVE judicial misconduct of associate magistrate judge Shalanda Williams and appointed lawyer city administrative judge Winston Webb. *** I even cite the Georgia statute and the Georgia constitution [that] both associate judges violated their oath of office with wilful and wanton reckless disregard of my guarantee protected rights of due process rights, constitutional liberties, constitutional rights and civil rights.
Footnote
Mr. James says while he was in cop Shandi Hall’s cruiser under arrest Jan. 26 he overheard Lt. Robert Goolsby ask, “Did you get that nigger?”
Michael James filing Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Page one of a filing by Michael James in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., municipal court, where no one is allowed to make legal resistance or assertion of rights, per custom of Juge Winston Webb.
