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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Dec 25, 2003

Friday, 12/19/03
Carol-loving judge spreads holiday cheer

By SUE McCLURE
Staff Writer

COLUMBIA — They weren't singing for their supper but were raising their voices to lower their fines.

Every year, Columbia City Judge Tom DuBois allows minor traffic offenders to sing a Christmas carol rather than pay a fine or court costs.

Yesterday, the hallways of City Hall reverberated with semi-rousing versions of Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Some in the audience joked that the resulting cacophony could very well violate the city's noise ordinance.

''Some people need a little help with their tunes,'' DuBois said and laughed. ''So we sometimes have duets and trios, even quartets.

''And our court officer, Kenny Lovett, sometimes helps people out. He sings in his church choir.''

Jason Bates and Wally Beasley Jr. were the first ''contestants,'' as DuBois termed them.

They belted out a convincing version of Rudolph, having only slight problems with the words to the second and third verses.

''Well, that was a little embarrassing, even for me,'' Beasley said, as the applause died down and he left the courtroom.

''Would you like to sing a solo and donate five canned goods for the Second Harvest Food Bank?,'' DuBois asked David Craig.

''Whatever pleases the court,'' he said, and launched into We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Members of the audience giggled as Bradley Clark told the judge he didn't know any Christmas carols.

''Hickory, Dickory, Dock is all I know,'' he said.

But with a little good-natured prodding from the bench, Clark was cajoled into contributing to a very off-key version of Jingle Bells. And while Jackie Bills didn't exactly abide by the ''Christmas carol'' rule, his rousing version of My Precious Lord brought the house down.

Standing in line to pay a significantly reduced fine after sharing his version of Rudolph, Jason Coleman grinned.

''Well, I wasn't very good, but I saved $160.''

Bradley Clark nodded, handing the clerk a couple of bills.

''You have a merry Christmas,'' he told her.

~~~


http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/12/44328079.shtml

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MaryE Baker City, OR(Zone 5b) Dec 25, 2003

This judge either has a good sense of humor or a hearing problem.

Post #737621
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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Dec 25, 2003

What a great system! I almost hope one of our judges does that! Heck, I may even try out for a traffic ticket just so's I can be a part of it!

Luv it!

Post #737635
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