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Let's Have a Look at Justice (?) in Little Rock, Arkansas
By: Amos Lassen http://eurekapride.com Let’s Have a Look at Little Rock Judge Alice Lightle Is She Indeed One of Us? Alice Lightle was elected to the bench last year when she ran as an openly lesbian candidate and she gained the support of the gay electorate and was heavily endorsed by state legislator Kathy Webb and the Stonewall Democrats. However, it now seems that Alice has forgotten how she got into office and I, for one, am glad I did not vote for her. I did not feel that she was qualified then and now I am sure that she is not qualified to represent the Arkansas GLBT community as an elected official. You will see where I am going if you continue reading. About three months ago I had made plans to meet someone at Kanis Park to go out to dinner in Little Rock. As I waited for him to show up I sat in my truck and read a book. I was approached by a very good looking man who stated a conversation with me and told me that he was out enjoying the beautiful weather. I got out of my truck and we continued talking and walked a bit at which point he told me was bisexual and looking for fun and openly propositioned me. When I replied he informed me that he was a Little Rock police officer and arrested me. He said if I went with him he would take my information and I would be free to go. This was not the case. I was transported to central lock up where I was photographed and fingerprinted, arrested and then released on my own recognizance with a trial date before Judge Alice Lightle. A month later when I arrived at court, I discovered that there were eleven other arrests made that day on the same charges—loitering, indecent exposure and pandering for sex. Everyone but myself pleaded guilty and Lightle imposed fines of $2500 to those arrested and no was given the right to speak in their own defense. When I was called to the bench I entered a plea of not guilty and given another trial date—November 5, 2009. I was given a public defender who never made contact with me even though I paid the fee. The first time I met him was at the actual trial. At that time he informed me that if I again pleaded not guilty there was no chance I would win on entrapment and told me that the only plea I could enter would be one of no contest by which I would not accept the blame and I would be fined $500 and I would be on probation for a year and then the charge would be expunged. Like a fool I listened to him. When Lightle handed down her judgment, I was fined $1000 plus court costs and a year’s probation which would make it impossible for me to find a job in my field of education. Keep in mind that Alice Lightle is a lesbian and was elected because she was supported by the gay vote. I had never met Alice Lightle before that day but I have been informed that she was well aware of who I am and of the work that I have done in the gay community of Arkansas. She nevertheless found me guilty, she did not let me speak in court and she watched as the policeman who arrested me laughed in my face. I ask you if this is acceptable behavior from a member of our community in an elected position. I was guilty of nothing more than sitting in my truck in a public park. This is an embarrassment to our community and Lightle seems to have forgotten who she is. I am planning on appealing this and have already contacted Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union. What does this say about the Stonewall Democrats and Kathy Webb who labored to get Lightle elected so we would have a safeguard on the bench? What a sham! Media provided by: www.GayWebSource.com - Gay Media and Press Network.
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