UNJUSTICE – Chapter 6: HONEYPOTS
 A Sydney Sullivan Story
“Although inspired in part by a true incident, the following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event.” Photos throughout the fiction are to
assist with your own imagination.

With the car packed and the fillets on ice the three judges headed back to the big city. The drive from Hubbard County is quite spectacular. The sky looked like a big dome containing all the snow covered fields and woods for as far as the eye could see. Everything appeared white and glistening like diamonds in the sunshine. Carl had a special pair of dark glasses that deflected the glare and made it easier to drive on the highway.

     “Okay, we have to talk about this,” John G. declared changing the small talk. “I know this isn’t an easy discussion, but is essential.”

Ole and Carl remained silent forcing John G. to elaborate his position.  John G. was a skilled trial lawyer and he began delivering a closing argument as if he were pouring righteousness into their minds. Judge John G. was turned halfway in his seat so he could look at Ole and Carl while he was talking. His focus was on Ole because he believed Carl was easier than Ole to sway and certainly if Ole agreed Carl would acquiesce.

After “selling” the potential for loss, the pain and suffering of the hundreds of government employees including the people that worked so closely with the judges in the court room, John G. pushed the future financial and career gains that would accompany the protected brethren of the fraternal order.

Carl articulated his feelings first. “I know you believe what you are saying and you know you are preaching to the choir …but John let’s put all of the cards on the table. There’s a federal judgeship coming up and you want a shot at it, right?”

“That position is few years away,” volleyed John G.

“Yes, but in the meantime,” countered Carl, “if all goes well you could get appointed to the appellate court and then onto the short list for USDC. Can you tell me you haven’t considered that?”

“Yeah, I’d like a shot at it. You know there are no guarantees in these appointments and that’s not why I’m asking you two to agree to this Washington mandate,” John G. snapped.

“Mandate?” Ole mimicked John G’s tone. “Why is this a mandate?”

“Well, maybe it’s not a mandate exactly, but it is a strong urging by the Senator because this is what Washington wants,” replied John G.

Both Ole and Carl pushed John G. on the issue and wanted to know “why” Washington felt so compelled to get involved at the local level.

“And yet,” John G continued, “while millions of underwater homeowners are an acute tragedy, you might say, they won’t guarantee a lasting national depression. Without enough gainfully employed homeowners, you won’t have a strong housing market. Without a banking system, you won’t have a housing market, period. The banks have to be able to foreclose – and let’s face it – not every homeowner can afford to maintain a home and the payment of a mortgage.”

“So, since Congress is going to overlook the corruption and criminal aspects of forgery, perjury, unlicensed securities sales, intentional non-disclosure… we are told to look the other way and do harm unto others? Why would we even contemplate such a position?!” Carl could hear in Ole’s voice he was beyond frustrated.

Carl jumped in to give Ole time to calm down, “Just last year Senator Klobuchar scheduled an Economic Committee hearing on one of the biggest jobs-related crises facing the nation – long-term unemployment, she was the only member in attendance and it wasn’t until later that only three other committee members even bothered to show up. Jobs should be the number one things these guys are focusing on, not how to help Wall Street “fix” its fraudulent foreclosures or hedge fund managers pay less in taxes. Obama should be shouting “Jobs” every time he leaves the White House instead of talking about his dance moves. Pelosi and Boehner should be focused on jobs, not austerity or immigration. Almost 40% of all unemployed Americans have been out of work for 6 months or more. And this does not count people who have simply given up looking for any work at all and you want us to discount the very people who are caught up in this circus?” It was Carl who had laid awake practicing the delivery of his combative sermon.

“You know guys,” Carl brilliantly segued into a new topic, “my dad’s best friend was Judge Kingsley, the legendary appellate court judge from Indiana. When I first got my appointment, Judge Kingsley took me out for lunch and told me to beware of honeypots. I had no idea what he was referring to back then, so I sat there and just listened like a good student. He said, ‘Carl, do you know how I’ve managed to stay on the bench for so long?’ I thought maybe it was a trick question, but I said, “No sir, but if I had to think of one good reason, it probably would be because you are the most astute and honorable man I know, …next to my father, of course.”

“He laughed,” Carl continued, “he said ‘no Carl – maybe good points’ and he grinned, ‘no Carl – its because I avoided any and all “honeypots.” 

“What do honeypots have to do with being on the bench and what the hell are they?” questioned Ole. John G remained remarkably silent.

Carl smiled, “the longer you are on the bench or in any political career, the more of a pawn you become to those who want to control the system. Honeypots have been around since before WWII. They were used to lure and compromise men, if not completely ruin them. Honeypot in the metaphorical sense is the baited trap designed to attract and compromise the unwary and owes its existence to the simile ‘like flies to a honey pot.’” Many long-serving state house reps and senators keep honeypot aides or interns on their payroll – same applies to Congress.”

“Judge Kinsley’s advice was to learn how to identify and avoid the company of anything even remotely resembling a “honeypot” and no, she doesn’t even have to be attractive,” Carl explained.

“Apparently, in her younger years the honeypot made a living collecting insurance from unsuspecting professionals,” Carl started to feel like he was lecturing his students again, especially when he glanced over at John G. and noticing his body language, suddenly wondered if the senator was dealing with a compromising situation since this was such a harsh push out of Washington, or maybe even John G.

“Enough honeypot class for today, I just figure both of you could be headed for higher positions and the honeypot advice is good to have before you, literally, screw up,” Carl smiled.

They were almost back to Minneapolis when Ole offered a compromise. “What if I, as a friend, speak to Louis? It would give him an opportunity to rethink his position.”

Carl thoughtfully responded, “You know Ole I think it’s a great idea for one of us to speak with Louis – but I think it ought to be me first. You have a good, personal relationship with Louis and this issue might jeopardize that. Louis has had some cases, other than foreclosure, in my court where the evidence has been so tight that the case could go either way and I’ve ruled in his client’s favor because what was presented was so detailed and specific. He knows I respect him as an attorney and I think he respects me as a judge. If I open a discussion with him and then if I can’t get him to move in another direction – then you, Ole, take the last shot…”

“That’s a good plan. I can tell you, Louis is one of the most honorable men I know,” Ole replied as he sighed with somewhat of a relief. “If he believes in something he’s tenacious. He’ll go to the ends of the earth to research it. Louis has an amazing recall and comprehension ability and if you ask him about it he’ll recite every detail he has learned. He wouldn’t be in foreclosure defense if he didn’t believe in the homeowners’ position.”

“I’ve seen that in my court,” Carl agreed.

John G. didn’t add anything. He really didn’t even look pleased. His facial expression was unemotional. John G. remained quiet and listened all the while thinking to himself it would just be easier to do what the Senator wanted now rather than mediate.

It was agreed that Carl would meet with Louis Harding first and see how far he could get in moving Louis out of foreclosure defense. It was a good plan, Ole thought to himself. A much better approach than to ruin a good man’s name and career. What Ole and Carl did not perceive was that there was a more sinister scheme than they could ever have imagined. And then it started to lightly snow.

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UNJUSTICE is a new series on DeadlyClear that will upload as chapters are completed. Please subscribe so you don’t miss as the story progresses. Inspiration and research in part with Vermont Trotter and our foreclosure defense network.
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