The judiciary is supposed to be the bedrock of truth, integrity, and accountability. But sometimes, the very people entrusted to uphold justice reveal how fragile those ideals can be. Four stories, from Louisiana to Florida, show us both the cracks in the system and the light that still manages to shine through.

In Louisiana, Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts faces a recommendation for removal after misleading voters about her military service and concealing details of an insurance claim. Campaigning on false credentials isn’t just a lapse in judgment; it undermines public faith in a system that depends on trust. If judges can’t be honest about their own records, how can they demand truth under oath?

Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Judge Hannah Dugan stands accused of something more dramatic—allegedly helping an undocumented defendant slip past waiting ICE agents. Her defenders see an act of compassion; her critics call it obstruction. The FBI calls it a crime. This case isn’t just about one judge and one immigrant. It’s about the clash between federal power and local autonomy, about whether the courtroom is a sanctuary or simply another arm of enforcement.

Then there’s Ohio, where Judge Nancy Russo is accused of repeatedly overstepping her jurisdiction, allegedly ignoring due process and issuing orders against a woman who says she was never properly notified. A courtroom is supposed to be a place where rights are protected. But for Julia Rielinger, it became a maze of missed notices, incorrect addresses, and sanctions she claims never should have been imposed. Her appeal to the state’s highest court is a reminder that when due process falters, justice can turn punitive instead of protective.

And finally, Sarasota County offers a counterpoint. Judge David Denkin’s career shows what it looks like when the robe is worn with humility and vision. His DUI court gave people struggling with addiction a second chance, not just a sentence. With nearly 700 graduates and one of the lowest recidivism rates in the state, his work is a blueprint for what justice can achieve when rehabilitation, not retribution, takes center stage.

These stories remind us that judges are human—capable of deceit, defiance, overreach, or compassion. The question is whether the system can hold the worst accountable while celebrating the best. Because in the end, justice doesn’t live in marble halls. It lives in the choices of the people we call “Your Honor.”

Disclaimer: The news on Abusive Discretion is from the public record. Editorials and opinions are light-hearted opinions about very serious topics not stated as statements of fact but rather satirical and opinion based on the information that is linked above.