EXACT WORDS, JUDGE LIVAS!

EXACT WORDS, JUDGE LIVAS! Associate Will County Judge Robert Livas obviously did not watch the Brady Bunch growing up or he would have remembered the episode where Greg got grounded for not following “exact words.” If he had, he would not have committed a violation of the judicial code of conduct by telling defendant Darrius Logan to return in two months with either proof that he had completed his 100 community service hours or with enough spiced chicken to feed the courtroom. So imagine his surprise when Logan carried in a tray of Uncle Joe's jerk chicken, bread and two sides of hot sauce to the courtroom. According to the Chicago Tribune, “Livas, a former prosecutor and Chicago police officer, said it was simply a joke gone awry.”A defendant took something I said as a joke literally," Livas said. "It forced me to keep my word and accept his original (community service) letter. I give him credit -- he made me eat my words.” "Last year I'm getting the judge of the year award from the Illinois State Crime Commission," he said, laughing. "And here now I'm answering questions about barbecue chicken." Defendant Logan said he spent $50 to do what the judge asked. "He told me to bring him some chicken, so that's what I had to do." Logan represented himself in the courtroom. Gerald Kinney, chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit, said in a prepared statement that the incident "has been referred for review to the appropriate agency." The state's judicial inquiry board, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct, did not give a comment to the Tribune. The American Heritage Dictionary defines “exact” as “strictly and completely in accord with fact; not deviating from truth or reality.” So could the Judge argue that because what he said in his “exact words” were not reality (a Judge is not allowed to impose that kind of ruling) his statement about the chicken could not be taken at face value? An interesting argument that might get the Judge out of this pickle!