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Hot for Teacher: Morals Breakdown in our Schools?

5/21/2015

So… what’s with all the female schoolteachers in the news lately? And not for good things – remember “The 3 Rs” – reading, writing, and arithmetic? There seems to be a FOURTH “R” with some female schoolteachers out there – rape.

My opening statement today, is about what I am now calling - Predatory School Teachers.

In Louisiana, 32 year old English teacher Shelly Dufresne along with her friend and colleague fellow teacher Rachel Respess were arrested and charged with – get this – having a THREESOME with a 16 year old male student – and MULTIPLE times! The women were found out when the boy was bragging around school that he was sleeping with his teachers. Well yeah, I’m guessing word like that would travel fast! He’s probably a rock star with his buddies. I mean this is like part music video and part porno movie – so I’ve heard!

Well, after learning that she avoided jail time, Dufresne posted a celebratory selfie of herself on Instagram the same night, using smiley face emojis to show how happy and relieved she was. And her followers congratulated her! Seriously? Well no wonder she’s hanging out with 16 year olds because this kind of behavior shows the maturity level and common sense of a teenager. If you’ve been accused of something so perverted as having multiple threesomes with one of your 16-year-old students – maybe lay low for awhile? Maybe show some discretion? Maybe stay off social media just hours after the judge gives you the benefit of the doubt? Maybe Ms. Dufresne should have checked her iCommon sense app before logging onto Instagram for an online victory party. This reminds me of when Paris Hilton started arranging her “I got out of jail free” party the first time she got out of jail, then the judge found out about it, and tossed her back in. Common sense violation.

At age 16 this is just an average boy’s fantasy? So it’s no big deal? Who’s the victim here?

Is there a double standard her? Could you imagine if it was 1 girl and 2 adult male teachers? People would show up on the pedophile pervert’s doorstep with lit torches calling for his head!

Also in the news this week, possibly the most famous predatory schoolteacher of them all, Mary Kay Letourneau sat down with Barbara Walters to update us all on her life. Because believe me I don’t know about you - but I have been asking for years – whatever happened to that schoolteacher who slept with and later married her 13 year old male student Vili Fualaau? Well, as the couple - now 53 and 31 years old – shared with Barbara Walters, it’s apparently just normal family life now. One big happy family. Except for the little things… like how Letourneau wasn’t allowed to visit her teenage daughter in the hospital earlier this year because of her convicted sex offender status. Which, by the way, Letourneau is working to get revoked.

So my question is: Why does it seem like this is happening more and more all the time? Or is it just being publicized more? Because as I said before, I don’t think it’s the teenage boys who are showing up at the police station complaining. They’re bragging to their friends! It’s their parents who are the ones speaking up! Even Mary Kay Letorneau’s young husband said that he wouldn’t support younger kids, like his two teenage daughters with Letorneau, being married or having a relationship with an older person. What a hypocrite! Or is he just someone who learned from his own mistakes? Or did he think that he and his one time schoolteacher were somehow above the law? That they were outside of the rules?

But overall – what is GOING ON with these female schoolteachers? What are they thinking?

I mean I know we’ve heard that people date in the workplace because of their lack of available dating options outside of work; is it this bad for teachers that the only guys they can find to date are sitting in the desks in front of them every day? Ever hear of eHarmony ladies? Or maybe Cougar Life.com where older women go to find younger men to date. Are there not enough legal aged men for female teachers to date anymore that they need to turn to their students? Or is there something just not wired correctly in their brains? Or is it a moral issue – they don’t know any better and think they can get away with it?

I want to hear from you: WHAT are these female schoolteachers thinking? And why do they seem to be getting away with things that male teachers would be CRUCIFIED for doing with female students? Is there a double standard?

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Stepping Away...

5/10/2015

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To my fans & listeners of 'Judge Cristina Live' on KABC:

At this time in my life for personal reasons I've decided to step away from this radio opportunity. Because truthfully, I'm a work-a-holic, with a thriving law practice and TV show, a pending TV project and a third book project as well as the establishment of an arbitration/mediation practice. And, most importantly, I am the mother of an 11 year old girl - and time will not wait as she grows up. I cannot miss another minute of that. Cumulus Media was so supportive of my decision and and I'm eternally grateful to them, especially John Dickey. I hope you, as my wonderful fans, will also support my decision and continue to watch and follow me in the future. My sincere gratitude to you all!

With Thanks,
Judge Cristina Perez

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The Court of iCommon Sense

5/6/2015

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As originally heard on Judge Cristina Live at 9 on KABC Radio

There’s a term that I created and have used quite a bit here on the show, called iCommon Sense. It’s something that I made up after reading a story about a couple who left their young children in the car on a cold night while they attended a wine tasting, and turned on the Facetime feature of their iPhones to keep an eye on the kids. They thought that their smart phones apparently were so smart, that they qualified as human babysitters. I said – well jeez, since everyone is so addicted to their smart phones, technology, and social media, we should create an app called iCommon Sense because let’s face it – common sense isn’t very common at all! The phrase stuck and I started using it in stories where people demonstrate a lack of common sense – and usually suffer the consequences as a result; or someone around them does.

So let me ask you: Do you think technology and social media have replaced common sense? Are we so dependent on our devices and the internet that we can’t even think for ourselves anymore?

Well today I’m going to present some evidence to you so you can make an informed decision on the answers to those very questions. So without further ado: Here Ye’ Here Ye’ – The Court of iCommon Sense is officially called to order with – ME – the honorable judge Cristina Perez presiding.

So the first case in the Court of iCommon Sense – where technology has replaced thinking – deals with everyone’s social media network – Facebook. I’m looking at a story here about a daycare worker in Texas who was fired before her first day of work at a new job. And it was all because she posted a status update on Facebook that read: “I start my new job today. But I absolutely hate working at daycare. I just really hate being around a lot of kids.” Now imagine you’re the owner of the daycare center – isn’t that exactly what you’d want to hear from your new employee? I’m going to guess no, it’s not. Well her boss did find out about the post and told the woman not to bother coming into work. Fired before she even clocked in. The woman later said that when she lands her next job – which I’m guessing won’t be in daycare after all this publicity – she will keep her opinions to herself. Good movie genius. My verdict here in the court of iCommon Sense? Guilty!

After I read this story, I got curious about how many other people have been fired for what they posted on Facebook. So I searched online using the phrase “fired over Facebook post” – and I found a whole PAGE of headlines! Prison official fired over facebook post. Waitress fired after complaining about bad tips on facebook. Bartender fired after facebook rant goes viral. And even – 19 Facebook posts that got people ARRESTED! Do any of these people know that the internet, especially social media, is a public place? No matter what privacy settings you have in place – if you put it online, you’re putting it out for everyone to see. And don’t blame Facebook either… it’s all in the fine print you agreed to when you signed up for an account. You can post that bogus notice that’s always going around the site all you want - that “I hereby declare that I own all my content, I claim my private, Facebook doesn’t own me” – and so on. But the fact is, when you log on to Facebook you are basically getting in front of a live TV camera and sharing your life with the whole world. With that in mind – doesn’t it make the most sense to only post things that you wouldn’t mind for the whole world to see? Facebook, I’m sure, didn’t come to the defense these people I’ve just mentioned who posted rants about their jobs or their bosses. So don’t count on Facebook being there for you either. Mark Zuckerberg does not care if you said something stupid and got fired because of it. So for the sake of time, I decided to group all the people in these stories about Facebook posts gone horribly wrong, together into one class action iCommon sense lawsuit and say – guilty.

This brings up the question: WHAT is this compulsive need we have to share every detail of our lives, every thought in our head, every meal we ate today – on social media? Is this the place where people now go to get attention and feel validated about their lives? Is the Internet nothing but an epicenter for narcissism and sympathy?

Now I certainly can’t fault people for needing an ego boost or needing to vent about their life… we are human after all. Life happens! Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. We need a place to let it all out once in awhile, right? My point is that perhaps the extremely public, worldwide forum that is social media, is not that place. When I’m upset I vent to my husband, or my sister, or my girlfriends. And sometimes there’s wine involved. But I don’t go online and tell the world about it… well actually – I take that back... If I want to vent about something that’s happening in the news, apparently I go live on the radio and give all of YOU my opinion. But that’s professional, not personal. One of my favorite dichos – which are like Spanish proverbs, words of wisdom - that I learned from my parents is: La ropa sucia se lava en casa. Which means - “Dirty clothes, wash at home. Keep problems at home.” And that is the advice I would give to everyone who appeared in the Court of iCommon Sense today. Keep your dirty laundry at home – not all over Facebook.

Court adjourned.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in: Do you post your dirty laundry on social media? Do you feel safe doing that or do you understand the risk involved?

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Is Social Activism Trumping the Legal Process?

5/4/2015

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As originally heard on Judge Cristina Live at 9, KABC Radio 5/4/15

On Friday, Baltimore’s Chief Prosecutors charged 6 police officers in the death of Freddie Gray. Let’s take a moment to look at these officers since we now have faces and names that go with what we’ve been hearing over and over – 6 police officers. 3 of the officers are Caucasian, 3 are African American. 1 officer is a woman, newly promoted to sergeant. A few were rookies and one was an experienced lieutenant with 17 years on the force. And whether they are found innocent or guilty, their lives, as they know them, are essentially over.

There are certain jobs that are more of a calling than a career – soldier, police officer, doctor, firefighter…. In my case – lawyer. Where if you’re not allowed to follow that calling for whatever reason – whether legal, medical, or otherwise – that’s it. Game over. It’s not just a line on a resume, or a “JOB” you can change like a sweater. It’s who you are a person. It is a piece of your identity.

And to be clear – this is a general point I’m making about police officers. I am not defending those police officers because it’s not my PLACE to judge them either innocent or guilty. I’m just a spectator in this like the rest of us. We are not their judge or jury – although sometimes the television media likes to believe they are. And yes, if the charges against the Baltimore police officers are true, and proven in a court of law – then I believe they must be held accountable for what they did to Freddie Gray. That is why we have a legal system in the first place – to hold people responsible for their actions and bring justice for those who have been wronged. This is why we have due process, a jury of one’s peers, evidence, and trials. Because if we simply went by the court of public opinion, based on here-say, rumors and media speculation - very few Americans would EVER get a fair trial. Is that what we want? When the arrests were announced, people rushed back onto the streets of Baltimore to celebrate. They felt vindicated. Even though nothing has actually been proven yet in a court of law. Let’s not let the agenda get clouded by actual facts – right?

Which brings up a big concern I have for this whole situation. In situations like Baltimore and Ferguson, where the media screams the headline as loud as they can – cop kills unarmed man. And people rush to the streets with signs and voices raised in anger. In these situations – are we allowing social activism to trump due legal process? Are we letting our emotions overtake the legal system? Is – “innocent until proven guilty” – now considered a casualty of social activism? Because if this is the precedent we’re setting – judging people in the court of public of opinion, instead of in an ACTUAL court… that is a slippery slope that will be VERY difficult, if not impossible, to climb back up from. Or democratic legal process, in my opinion, is one of the greatest things about our country. Is this often combustive passion we are now demonstrating as a nation, to prove a point – putting our legal process in jeopardy? I am asking these questions from my own passion – my passion for the law. It is not a perfect system but I love it. The law is my calling, so how can I possibly NOT be concerned?

Let’s talk about what I’ve referred to a couple times now as social activism. Yes, that may not be the correct phrase but what should I call it? Is setting the law aside – throwing out “innocent until proven guilty” – just a much easier way to act like solved the core issue here? Are these arrests – and will this trial – be nothing but another Band-Aid on race relations? Because it seems to me that the only thing riots usually do is create even more racial divide. What have we solved here? And again – I have to ask – has it been at the expense of our legal system? Will people expect – and even DEMAND – that this is how stories like this play out from now on? Something bad happened, we are angry, there had better be some arrests and FAST – and unless you want all heck to break loose – you’d better find them guilty. Is this how we REALLY want our legal system to work from now on?

One man is dead. 6 careers are over and the Baltimore Police Officers Union is now speaking out against the state attorney’s office in protest. Businesses are burned to the ground. Police officers and even residents are afraid for their lives. Media trucks and vans with satellites and anchormen and women in suits have basically moved into the city of Baltimore. Is this nothing but a circus or is something actually being solved here?

What have we learned? What has been accomplished that will make things better next time? I fear that some of the things that happen may make things even worse – because it’s becoming normal now. And this is a really dangerous new normal.

In the middle of the chaos and now moving into what will be an EXTREMELY high profile, volatile, emotional court trial… did we take a step forward toward fixing the root problems? Or a step backwards?

You tell me – Is social activism putting the integrity of our legal system in jeopardy? Has the court of public opinion declared – guilty until proven innocent? Does this concern you?

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#TBT: I Have a Dream... or a nightmare?

4/30/2015

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As originally heard on Judge Cristina Live at 9, on KABC Radio

For my Throwback Thursday opening statement today, I decided not to choose a famous court case or legal trial from the past to look at, like I did with my last throwback Thursday statement on the OJ Simpson trial. No, instead I was inspired to talk about a different throwback event in American history. One that I couldn’t help but think of in light of this week’s disturbing events in Baltimore.

Did you know – it has been 52 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and gave his infamous “I have a Dream” speech? 52 years since on that day, August 28, 1963, King addressed approximately 250,000 people who had gathered on the mall in Washington, with millions more watching on television from home. I think of all that has changed since then, especially with things like science and technology. Do you remember those video watches on the TV show The Jetsons – also debuting in the 1960’s? Well now we have those in real life with the Apple watch. We have electric cars, computers, and maybe even soon… the famous Jetson flying cars.

But what HASN’T changed since then - apparently?

Well – if you watched the news this week, you saw it and it looked a lot like the civil rights riots of the 1960’s. Lines of police in riot gear, fending people off – mostly young people, children at that – who threw rocks at them. They lit businesses on fire. They torched police cars. Honestly at one point, if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought I was watching news reports coming out of the Middle East. Lighting buildings and cars on fire? ATTACKING police officers? I’m sorry but some of those kids were acting more like little domestic terrorists in training – street terrorists. What is the difference? Are the fires different if they are lit in the Middle East? Is destruction different when it’s in another country than America? How much SLACK are we willing to give these criminals and thieves, simply because many in the media are calling them protestors – as if their actions are for a noble cause so that makes it okay. President Obama even came out, and condemned – and I quote – “the criminals and thugs who tore up the city.” How is this a noble cause?

Do you really think this was really Martin Luther King’s dream? No, this was his nightmare, not his dream. I don’t believe that this is what he was envisioning that day in his “I Have a Dream” speech – not at all.

One question that I raised earlier this week – and one that had MANY of you calling me with passionate opinions – was: Why would people destroy their own neighborhoods like this? Why would they want to hurt their own community?

And how many of these young people even know who Martin Luther King Jr. even was? Do they think his name is just a name on a street sign in most American cities?

Then I started to think about the word community and how it’s used so often in the news, by politicians, and even by people who call themselves “community leaders.” Sometimes it sounds like – well the community thinks this, so that’s what we do and think. I mean, ask 10 people of any background about a topic and in a free society you’ll get 10 different opinions. And yes, maybe I’m confused – maybe I’m not just getting it. But I think of the phrase “The Latino community” and sometimes wonder – who are they talking about? Every group of people – whether racially, culturally, or geographically grouped together – is extremely diverse. Very unique. I just can’t help but wonder if sometimes the word community is used with a different intention… Like – you are one of us – you will do what’s best – for the community… So when there is a riot, there is must be a simple explanation – the community is angry.

How can we have UNITY when the word COMMunity is often used in such a divisive, politicized manner? Is “community” a word that is being used to divide us?

But in Baltimore – it WASN’T the community that was rioting. It was a select group of pepople who were taking advantage of a situation to cause trouble.

And then… in the middle of it all… like a ray of hope… in some news stories that you didn’t see so much on CNN or Fox News – we got to see the ACTUAL community. The real people of Baltimore!

The now famous mom who publicly hit and scolded her child for throwing rocks at the police, sending the message – NO, young man. That is NOT how I raised you. That is NOT acceptable.

The line of people who stood united in front of the police – to protect them from rioters.

And then – the next morning – approximately 2,000 citizens showed up, gloves on and trash bags in hand – to clean up their city. There was a tweet from a 26-year-old resident named Renee who brought her kids with her to the clean up. She said she was there to “show my kids how community works.”

YES. Now that definition of community – I can get behind. All these good-hearted people showed up simply to do the right thing. They showed up and thanklessly cleaned up the messes left behind by other people. They weren’t looking for credit, they didn’t bring a bullhorn or a soapbox or a media crew or a political agenda. They just showed up, and did the right thing. Community means doing the right thing.

If we can build THAT kind of national community – of good, decent people who want to build up, not tear down their neighborhoods… well I think that’s something Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud of.

But what do you think? What does the word community mean to you? And what do you think Martin Luther King Jr. would have had to say about the riots this week in Baltimore?

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My Father's American Dream

2/14/2015

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Although I was born here, I, like many other Hispanic Americans, come from immigrant parents. If you think about it, every American’s unique story dates back to an immigrant – whether that means going back hundreds of years, several decades or looking to your own parents.

These stories define us as a great country – a melting pot of diversity and cultural opportunity. Each story comes from a different time and place, each with its own set of challenges.

My personal story began with one particular immigrant. Referring to America as, “the land of possibility and potential,” he and his wife arrived from Colombia to the Bronx New York in 1963 to pursue his dream of becoming a surgeon and providing a better life for his family. While pursuing this dream, the man withstood unspeakable discrimination and confronted obstacles, simply because he was an immigrant. While he was an educated man, he did not speak perfect English. As a result, his worth as a human being and a professional was devalued. Rather, he was judged on looks alone and was forced to take any type of employment that would support him and his family - from janitor to factory worker. But he never complained. You see, despite these hard times – he knew that this incredible country would eventually open doors for him and his family. He was right. After 20 years of perseverance, hard work and overcoming many challenges, this man finally accomplished his goal. He became a top surgeon, earning top honors and recognition in the process.

This is the story of one American immigrant and there are millions more similar stories that we all share. But for me, this story is the one that has driven me throughout my life to succeed because this is the story of my father. His strength and passion resonate with me in everything I do. This is what he has left me as his legacy, his American Dream.

-Cristina

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"Real" Judge?

1/13/2015

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Some of you have been asking about the difference between a "TV Judge" and a "real judge." This is a great question and I am always happy to educate how the legal profession works. First, television judges are not allowed to actively serve on the bench in an actual court of law. As far as our backgrounds prior to serving on our respective court shows, some of us were sitting judges while others were and continue to be attorneys. In my case, I have been a licensed attorney for nearly 20 years and television judge for over a decade.

On our respective court shows, "TV judges" perform the same duties that a sitting judge would in a small claims or lower court. We must be extremely well versed in all areas of the law in order to hear these cases. One simply cannot "fake it" when it comes to being a judge - whether inside or outside a television courtroom. I believe that the diverse legal background and experiences of television judges plays an important role in educating viewers about how the law works in the courts. Our shows depict a fast paced and concise nature of that process. I have arbitrated and ruled on over 2,500 cases.

It has been my privilege to serve countless clients and litigants on my court shows. The law is my passion and I am honored to share such with you, using television as a vehicle to educate. As always, thank you for watching 'Justice for All'! See you in Court!

Yours Truly,
Judge Cristina Perez

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Forward>>

Hot for Teacher: Morals Breakdown in our Schools?

Stepping Away...

The Court of iCommon Sense

Is Social Activism Trumping the Legal Process?

#TBT: I Have a Dream... or a nightmare?

My Father's American Dream

"Real" Judge?

Opening Statements

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