Skip to content
Entertainment
Link copied to clipboard

Watch: John Oliver slams former Philly Traffic Court judge Willie Singletary

On this past weekend’s installment of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver took on the hot topic of electing judges through a takedown of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore that was underscored by example of former Philly traffic court judge Willie Singletary.

On this past weekend's installment of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver took on the hot topic of electing judges through a takedown of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore that was underscored by example of former Philly traffic court judge Willie Singletary.

Singletary, as you may remember, was cleared last summer of conspiracy and ticket-fixing charges, though he was convicted of lying to the FBI in a recent case dealing with several Traffic Court judges allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for special treatment in the court. Currently, Singletary is awaiting sentencing on that perjury charge.

As Oliver points out starting around 9:20 in the clip above, though, it wasn't the ticket-fixing "consideration" scheme that got Singletary removed from the bench, but a 2012 "judicial penis" debacle that had him showing nude photos of himself to a Traffic Court cashier. Of particular note in that case is that Singletary had apparently "intentionally groom[ed] his penis for photography."

"That's not really relevant to the story that I'm telling right now," Oliver said. "But I think you'll agree: You had to know that. You deserve to know that."

What is relevant, though, is a 2007 video of Singletary soliciting bribes from a crowd at a biker rally in exchange for special treatment from him following his election to the court.

"Do all judges do this? Are there divorced judges going to Ikeas right now saying, 'Look, I know some of you guys won't last. Who's got 50 bucks for me? Cough up,'" Oliver said.

Following that, Oliver went on to issue a takedown of the elected judiciary system, a process to which 39 states subscribe on some level. Which, of course, is odd, considering that judicial elections were in and of themselves a reformation movement — though, today, many judges run unopposed. And that some 85 percent of American judges are elected to their positions only serves to make it worse.

"That's terrifying," Oliver said. "You shouldn't be sitting in a prison going, 'How did you get 15 months for public urination?' 'Well, you know, it was October in an election year. I should have known what I was getting into.'"

What's more, those judges running a campaign evidently often seek campaign donations from lawyers, much like Singleton sought "donations" in that 2007 video from his constituents.

"Think about it: Giving money to judges wouldn't be acceptable in a state fair squash growing competition!" Oliver said.