Readers might recall OpenCdA’s posts on November 21, 2012 (Judges, Prosecutors, and Other Vermin) and January 29, 2013 (D’ere Go Da’ Judge… ) which reported that Michigan State Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway was being given a federal time out for bank fraud.  In May she was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty in January to bank fraud in connection with a property in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.

Now another state court judge, this one from Texas, is headed off to federal prison after being convicted of racketeering.  Former State District Judge Abel Corral Limas has been ordered to federal prison for 72 months.

It seems that former Judge Limas admitted his part in use of the office of judge of the 404th District Court as a criminal enterprise to enrich himself and others through extortion. Limas accepted money and other consideration from attorneys in civil cases pending in his court in return for favorable pre-trial rulings in certain cases.

Evidence also showed Limas participated in a series of meetings with attorneys Marc Garrett Rosenthal and Jim Solis in the summer of 2008 during which they planned and negotiated the terms of Limas’ employment as an “of counsel” attorney with the firm. During those meetings, Rosenthal promised Limas an advance of at least $100,000, as well as a percentage of attorneys’ fees earned in the helicopter crash case in return for favorable rulings on the case.

Limas was expecting to be “cut in” on 10 percent of the settlement/judgment of the helicopter crash case pending in his court and the $100,000 advance. On December 31, 2008, Limas received a check for $50,000 payable from the Rosenthal & Watson Law Firm. On January 2, 2009, Limas received a check for $50,000 from Solis.  In October 2009, the helicopter case settled for approximately $14 million and Limas received approximately $85,000 from the Rosenthal & Watson Law Firm approximately two months later.

Fortunately for us in Kootenai County, Idaho, it couldn’t happen here.   Deadender judges always go bad someplace else.