When Judge Bensonetta Tipton-Lane stripped Tameka Raymond of full custody of her 2 sons in favor of singer Usher Raymond, her controversial ruling exposed a little known practice of attorneys contributing to judicial campaigns.
Tameka’s attorney, Lisa West, accused Judge Tipton-Lane of bias in light of the judge’s close ties with Usher Raymond’s attorney, John Mayoue, sparking a federal probe into corruption at the judicial level.
And while judges are required to list all campaign contributions and donors, most Atlanta residents don’t know how to access that information when they go before a judge. Critics argue that the contributions gives clients with deep pockets an unfair advantage over less fortunate clients who can’t afford an attorney with good connections.
But even clients with deep pockets find themselves at an unfair disadvantage. Former NBA star Allen Iverson has filed a Motion for Recusal asking Tipton Lane to step down as the judge presiding over his bitter custody battle. By coincidence, Usher’s attorney, John Mayoue, is also the attorney for Iverson’s wife.
In his Motion, Iverson cites Sandrarose.com, Hiphopenquirer.com and other local blogs as media sources covering the FBI probe of possible corruption at the Fulton County courthouse.
Iverson accused Tipton Lane of having “a track record of making biased decisions for contributors.” In his motion, Allen claims the judge’s decision to strip Tameka of primary custody was biased.
TMZ.com reports that Judge Tipton Lane denied Iverson’s Motion for Recusal. She countered that Iverson did not sufficiently prove his allegations against her.
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