Diane Tran, an honor student in Texas, was thrown in jail by a Judge Moriarty (!) after she missed too many classes at her high school.
Tran said she works both full-time and part-time jobs, in addition to taking advanced and college level courses.
But the judge said Tran's case was bigger than the individual situation of one student.
"If you let one run loose, what are you gonna' do with the rest of 'em?," said Judge Lanny Moriarty. "Let them go too? A little stay in the jail for one night is not a death sentence."
But Tran's classmates said she had a lot more to juggle than the average teen.
"She goes from job to job from school. She stays up until 7 a.m. in the morning doing her homework," said Devin Hill, a classmate and co-worker.
On top of that, Tran said her parents spilt up and moved away, leaving her to support her younger sister.
The judge admitted that he wanted to make an example of the teen.
Tran had to spend 24 hours in jail and had to pay a $100 fine.
Text from
CBSAtlanta.com staff; photo via
TNT Magazine, where it is noted that "under Texan law any student skipping classes for more than 10 days in a six month period faces jail time and a fine," but...
News of Diane’s plight has spread online, with a petition at change.org and a helpdianetran.com.
A lot of US judges are elected so you can end up with as many dimwitted judges as politicians.
ReplyDeleteAmericans seem to love putting people behind bars.
It's unfair to paint Texas with too broad a brush because there are many fine, progressive, thoughtful people there. But guys like this idiot judge reinforce the negative stereotype of Texas that many people outside the state hold.
ReplyDeleteThe judge is an idiot. Glad to see that $65,000 in donations to help her have been raised so far.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the link to the helpdianetran site is incorrect. I had to edit it to get to the site. http://www.helpdianetran.com/.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Amy. It was defective, and I've fixed it. I'm pleased to see the total has kept rising since this morning.
Deletewisdom does not reside in robes it seems.
ReplyDeleteBravo for all the support of Amy Tran!
ReplyDeleteAlso branded as idiots: the school administra(i)tors who finked on her. More proof (if any were needed) that zero tolerance equals zero intelligence.
ReplyDeleteThe judge is a genius! If he had just dismissed the case, the poor girl would be stuck in her current situation with no hope for change. Instead he decided to sacrifice a bit of his own reputation to get her some help. With all of this fuss, she's been given nation-wide support and an opportunity to make some big changes.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not sure he was being that strategic.
DeleteHe was not a genius, but there might be some good stuff happening because of his idiocy.
DeleteOne day the American dream will happen while Americans are awake. Until then, sweet dreams.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is going on here... In what "free world" does that happen? I am really ashamed to be a westerner... this is really pathetic and encouraging fat suckers who do not do anything but drink bud light and think they are cool because they are american.
ReplyDeleteOf all the students to choose to make an example of.... Words like 'heartless', 'harsh' and 'unnecessary' spring to mind. Good to see how many people have rallied around her though - hope her situation improves.
ReplyDeleteI thought you make an example of disruptive and threatening students, but maybe truancy looks different to some Texans.
ReplyDeleteApplying a law like this indiscriminately and across the board only encourages students to drop out of school completely. The policy where I live is to investigate each case to see if something can be done to help the student stay in school and show up every day. The threat of jail is only used when there is no extenuating circumstances -and even then, it's the parent who is prosecuted (if the truant student is a minor).
ReplyDeleteLaws are laws, but we have to keep our eyes on the purpose of the law. We want students to come to school and graduate. The school system, the social service system, and the legal system all could have stepped in to help this girl, instead of passing the buck.
Why is it again that the parents weren't in front of the judge?
ReplyDeletePerhaps because "her parents spilt up and moved away, leaving her to support her younger sister."
DeleteI would think they would get them on Child Abandonment and lack of child support. Both are crimes in Texas. God knows the Dallas news is full of reports of parents going to jail for neglect, etc. In any case, the judge should have issued warrants for the missing custodial parents and refereed the case to CPS to get the girl some help.
DeleteChecking back to see where the discussion had gone. Yes, I understand that the parents had divorced and moved away--and yet, I don't think the act of moving absolved them of their responsibility as parents, which was my point (however badly expressed).
DeleteFrom your lips to the court system's ears, Stonemaven.
The girl's record has been cleared now, I understand.
It looks like Judge Lanny Moriarty is not exactly the straight arrow he would like others to believe he is.
ReplyDeleteIn April 2009, the Texas Ethics Commision has found him guilty for having failed to properly report political contributions, political expenditures, and political contributions maintained, and accepted political contributions from corporations.
from the resolution itself:
"After considering the seriousness of the violations described under Sections III and IV, including the nature, circumstances, and consequences of the violations, and after considering the sanction necessary to deter future violations, the commission imposes a $2,800 civil penalty.
VIII. Order
The commission hereby orders that if the respondent consents to the proposed resolution, this order and agreed resolution is a final and complete resolution of SC-2811371."
http://montgomerytx.countymonitor.com/files/2009/05/tec_moriarty_reso.pdf
So maybe he's not the one entitled to make an example of others, and certainly not of a bright, hard-working and honest student like Diane.
Nice find, AM.
DeleteSomeone was irritated by over-achieving Asian students... and took it out on this girl. Sad.
ReplyDeleteAt last report the judge has dismissed the charges. In addition to a better understanding of the situation, it seems the summons wasn't written properly. Over a hundred thousand dollars has been raised, and she is reluctant to take it because she feels there are others who need it more.
ReplyDeleteShe wants to become a doctor. I think she'll be a splendid one.