Opinion ID: 7347067
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Count 1(F): Andrews

Text: Heidi Andrews has known Judge Stanford for nearly 25 years and is a good Mend of the judge’s wife. In April 2007, Andrews was cited for speeding on the street where the Stanfords live while en route to visit the judge’s wife. Neither Andrews nor Judge Stanford could recall whether they spoke about the ticket. The masters found, as do we, that there was no such conversation. It is unclear how it was determined that Judge Stanford would handle Andrews’s ticket. Andrews testified, “it was just, for . . . lack of a better word, just sort of this is what happened, and it was able to be taken care of. And I thought, ‘Okay,’ and I didn’t think any more about it.” Judge Stanford testified that he wanted to help Andrews because the speed limit on his street had recently changed and he felt bad for her. The standard courtesy notice was sent to Andrews on May 10, 2007. The total bail amount was $248.50. On May 17, Judge Stanford ordered entry of a guilty plea and suspended sentence, waiving all fees. The minutes state that Andrews “appeared via phone,” but neither the judge nor his clerk had any recollection of a telephonic appearance. Cherie Garofalo, the director of criminal operations (which includes traffic), could not recall ever seeing an appearance by telephone in a traffic matter. The masters found there was no telephonic appearance. We concur.