Judge Boags

The Times is to be commended for its investigative reporting on Judge Boags' suspension of fines on at least 72 parking tickets issued to his son. This is flagrant nepotism at its worst and abuse of judicial power that cannot be tolerated. Judge Boags' assertion that "he didn't think and didn't consider the conflict of interest aspect because he had something else on his mind" is a paltry excuse and makes him unfit to be a judge! The fact that he circumvented normal procedures again raises questions about his judicial ethics, conduct and moral fitness as a judge.

The article about Judge Boags' conviction for fixing parking tickets for his son and his son's friends raises ethical questions concerning the qualifications of the son, Martin R. Boags, to be a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy. According to the article, Martin Boags gave his father 205 parking tickets (145 of his own as well as another 60 issued to his Beverly Hills High friends) during 1984, 1985 and 1986. No one ever had to appear in court or had to pay a fine for any of these tickets.

The article about Judge Boags' conviction for fixing parking tickets for his son and his son's friends raises ethical questions concerning the qualifications of the son, Martin R. Boags, to be a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy. According to the article, Martin Boags gave his father 205 parking tickets (145 of his own as well as another 60 issued to his Beverly Hills High friends) during 1984, 1985 and 1986. No one ever had to appear in court or had to pay a fine for any of these tickets.

Judge Boags is either incredibly stupid or disgustingly arrogant. His complete lack of judgment and/or ethics offers a sad commentary on the type of individuals who become judges in this society. Does Boags recognize his failure as a father? Obviously he has taught his son a valuable lesson in irresponsibility and disregard for the law. The most infuriating aspect of this episode is that Boags will probably get away without even a reprimand, and will be allowed to continue serving as a judge.

A state appeals court has dismissed one criminal count against Beverly Hills Municipal Judge Charles Boags, ruling that he did not violate the public trust when he suspended fines for 207 parking tickets issued to his son or the youth's friends in 1985 and 1986. In issuing the decision, however, the 2nd District Court of Appeal refused to dismiss a second charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice against the 58-year-old judge. Prosecutors consider this count the "heart of the case," Deputy Dist.

Beverly Hills Municipal Judge Charles Boags was placed on six months' probation and fined $4,000 Friday for conspiring to obstruct justice by suspending fines on parking tickets issued to his son and the younger Boags' Beverly Hills High School friends. The 59-year-old jurist was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. If Boags does not pay the fine and perform the work by Sept. 11, ruled Beverly Hills Municipal Judge Carlos Baker Jr., he could spend 90 days in County Jail.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Municipal Judge Charles Boags of Beverly Hills suspended without pay after his conviction on a charge of improperly dismissing parking ticket fines. Boags, 59, was found guilty by a jury of the misdemeanor charge of suspending fines on more than 200 parking tickets issued to cars registered to himself, his son and his son's friends. The suspension will last while Boags appeals his case.

Steven Livaditis sat quietly today as a public defender entered an innocent plea to three murders stemming from a bungled Rodeo Drive jewelry store robbery, but the suspect forcefully asked for a preliminary hearing as soon as possible. Deputy Public Defender Michael Demby entered the innocent plea and asked for a preliminary hearing date of Aug. 11. Municipal Judge Charles Boags, asked by Livaditis for an even earlier date, said he would consider the suspect's request.

Martin R. Boags, 17, is a Beverly Hills High School student with a propensity for accumulating parking tickets--at least 72 of them over one five-month period beginning last September. Not to worry, though, because Martin's father--and the registered owner of the car involved in all the infractions--is Charles D. Boags, a Beverly Hills municipal judge.