It appears from the stories of the parties that new allegations of marital infidelity by Mark Fuller have surfaced as it is contended that the attack was over yet another affair by Mark Fuller with one of his courthouse's employees, this time a federal law clerk instead of the bailiff he ended up marrying who is now the victim in the domestic violence charge (battery) filed by the Georgia criminal justice system. Reports and rumors have also surfaced that another female employee who complained directly to Mark Fuller about turning his courtroom and office at the Montgomery federal building into a sexual playground (which she found offensive along with his treatment of his actual wife) was fired for making such a complaint by another judge in the federal court building.
Clearly we have two different wives here complaining that their husband Mark Fuller has committed infidelity with courthouse employees and both have made reports as to violent behavior; in Kelly Fuller's case her reporting is backed by witnesses, audio recordings and photographs.
If President Obama and Vice President Biden are serious about domestic violence issues, they will lead the movement to impeach Judge Mark Fuller from office, or accept his resignation based on their request to Fuller to quit the bench. To leave him in office would be an affront to their proclamation of zero tolerance for domestic violence and would disgrace the federal judiciary.
It is sad that two learned law professors so far have spoken out and claimed that a misdemeanor battery conviction in a domestic violence situation, if that happens, would not cause Mark Fuller any problems related to his position on the bench. The two professors might have been correct twenty five years ago when domestic violence wasn't treated as seriously as it is today but they are wrong now to dismiss the seriousness of these charges.
I suspect women's groups all over the country will call for zero tolerance and Fuller's removal from the bench. To allow him to stay if convicted will not be "zero tolerance", instead it will be intolerable for women across the country as we have fought long and hard to have this crime be taken seriously -- regardless of the wealth, connections or position of the person convicted.
Zero tolerance of domestic violence must mean zero tolerance even for a sitting federal judge. It is ironic that this judge sentenced Gov. Don Seigelman because Siegelman was known prior to his conviction as the strongest advocate the state of Alabama had ever seen against domestic violence, and repeatedly spoke across the state about strengthening the Alabama domestic violence laws including the concept of "zero tolerance" for this crime. If this judge is impeached or requested to resign it may prove to be the start of vindication for Gov. Don Siegelman who was a champion against the crime Fuller is now charged with.
Dana Jill Simpson lives in Rainsville, AL
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