Former judge surrenders in DWI probe

Raleigh, N.C. — A former Wake County judge surrendered Friday morning, three days after she was indicted in a scheme to alter court records in driving while impaired cases.

Kristin Ruth, who stepped down as a District Court judge in May, is charged with failure to discharge her duties. She was released on her own recognizance.

The indictments allege that evidence of blood-alcohol levels of 0.15 or higher was wrongly suppressed in seven cases and that the convictions of 39 other drivers were back-dated, meaning that some might have been spared a license suspension or had a shortened time without a license.

Defense attorney James Crouch was the defense attorney of record in each case.

Crouch was indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count each of altering court records and criminal conspiracy. Elizabeth Michelle Daniel, a paralegal in Crouch's office, was indicted on one count each of obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy.

In a statement announcing her resignation, Ruth said that she trusted Crouch and that he misled her by asking her to sign court orders that differed from how he had described them.

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Judge Ruth was a kind and fair judge. This should've been, at most, an ethics inquiry. North Carolina is one of only a few states that permits one side - the DA - to pick the court date and the courtroom where a case is heard. In almost every other state, including nearly all other southern states, a neutral trial court administrator sets the calendar.

A full investigation into a matter like this would also look at any instance where a District Attorney has spoken without both parties present about a case, whether it's how high a bond should be set, or in front of which judge the defendant will appear.

A full investigation would determine whether any DA has ever set a case for trial in order that the case appear in front of a judge favored by the prosecutor.

A full investigation would determine whether a prosecutor has ever moved any case around to find a more favorable judge.

A full investigation would determine how cases are set for trial, and how trial lineups are established

jstrummer
June 29, 2012 6:26 p.m.

Not at all shocked, that liberal rag, with a "little" lamb leading the way. If it were an Officer or a Trooper...The story would drag on for weeks.

reddherring1987
June 29, 2012 4:53 p.m.

I'm not shocked at all to see that WRAL has ALREADY REMOVED this story from the highlights of their online web site! Not shocked one bit! Go to WTVD 11's web site...they have this story on Ruth HIGHLIGHTED as the head story of the afternoon...because RUTH "snuck out the back door" to avoid news camaras...hence, a priviledge NOT allowed to ANYONE ELSE who suffered the consequences of arrest.

kodac31
June 29, 2012 3:59 p.m.

Someone now needs to look around at the *family court* and just what goes on in it also. I think one of the news station tried to sit in on some cases but was told that they needed to leave. Does this tell anyone anything about the FAMILY COURT SYSTEM?

dollibug
June 29, 2012 3:40 p.m.

KARMA is sweet...and this is just the TIP of the ICEBERG...wonder when they are going to review other cases to find out just what is taking place in Wake County...it is time for real change there also...there are laws to follow...but NO ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS BEING DONE IN A LEGAL AND LAWFUL MANNER...I guess as with this investigation...they just *acted dumb*...and the lawyer took the fall for it...with the judge blaming it on *trusting him*...EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES...judges DO NOT ALLOW EXCUSES...

dollibug
June 29, 2012 3:39 p.m.