Complaint Review: Duncan Municipal Court

 I appeared in Municipal Court in Duncan, Oklahoma for a speeding ticket. As I walked into the courtrom, there were about 20 people waiting for the judge. I asked a girl there what she was there for and she said a speeding ticket. As the judge walked up to the bench, he made a hand signal to the bailiff and the bailiff cleared the court-room except for me and a man who was in the back wearing orange scrubs and was handcuffed. The judge then began and read us our right, which was the fifth Amendment. He then called my name and I stood up, and he asked me if I had the money to pay the ticket and I replied that I didn't and he asked if I'm aware of the consequences of my actions. I replied, I don't understand. He then said "you don't understand speeding in a 45 mile lane, well maybe a couple of days in jail will help you understand."

He nodded to the bailiff, and I was grabbed by the arm and pushed up against the wall and handcuffed, and then i was escorted to a police cruiser and taken to the Stephens County Jail. I asked what i was arrested for and no one would tell me. In fact I didn't know until I was released from jail a couple of days later. I feel like my rights were violated and the judge had no probable cause to place me under arrest. The day I was released I signed a document saying that I would not seek legal action for the judgement I received. I have no idea why I was arrested. I simply stated, i didn't understand and I tried to explain that my car was searched the day I was pulled over without my consent and the judge had me arrested.

I will say that I feel that the judge clearing the courtroom violated my 6th Amendment right to a public trial, and I also believe some of my civil rights were violated. I paid the speeding ticket in full the day I was released. I talked to an attorney who told me "Oh I know that judge, we attended the same law school." I asked if he could help me, and he said that he would have a conflict of interest in this case. I have discovered that every attorney in Duncan will side with the city and if a judge or cop does anything to violate an individual's rights, there is not one freaking attorney in Duncan, Oklahoma or Stephens, County who will do a d**n thing to help! That is why I am filing this report. Because the city of Duncan is so damned corrupt that even the attorneys in the surrounding areas are playing their game!