Her own articles in 2006 were beyond the pale for such an award-winning journalist. She’s got a paper trail (literally) of damage control pieces for these filthy political sickos.

But here are two examples:

Of course, The Ellis County Press covered the real issues:

This is by far the most controversial yard sign ever created for any election in Ellis County history. Source: Pastor Mike Treis

DA probates hundreds of sex offenders. Click here for the full version of this paper

I replied back with a mountain of names, numbers, cases, summaries, story archives of people who have had their run-ins with the criminal justice system in Ellis County.

This five-page feature in Dallas’ alternative weekly newspaper was the culmination:

Click the image to read the feature. It’s worth every word to learn about why Knize is the Bully on the Bench.

Take your pick:

[[[Google Search: Judge Gene Knize]]]

[[[Google Search: Gene Knize Rudy Kos]]]

[[[Google Search: Gene Knize Sex Offenders]]]

[[[Ellis County Observer Archives: Gene Knize]]]

Some will surprise you. Some of the same lawyers who contributed to Knize’s campaign were off the record talking to the Dallas Observer. Maybe some of these lawyers who contributed feared that if they didn’t, they would be punished somehow. We now know that Knize accepted applications for the indigent defense “wheel” several weeks later than normal so that – the theory goes — he could find out who was supporting whom.

Well here you are, folks. Here are – to be fair – both financial report sites for Knize and his first-time-in-19-years primary challenger Dan Altman.

Waxahachie Mayor Pro-Tem and “lifelong Republican” Ron Wilkinson, who recently was interviewed for the court at law No. 1 position, contributed $500 to Knize.

Waxahachie Councilman Joe Gallo, a defense lawyer, contributed $1,000.

Just look at all of the names of those who publicly support a crooked and dishonest judge. Who knows, maybe they contributed out of fear, but the main point is, they helped Knize big-time.

They basically paid him to keep doing what the Dallas Observer exposed Knize for doing.

In fact, a fieldtrip to the district clerk’s office will show just how bad it is for victims of these violent sexual crimes. Grubbs and his child rapist-loving assistant Patrick M. Wilson have signed off on at least 50 plea bargains that kept sex offenders on the streets – not off. Sure, they got their much-coveted “conviction” in the bag, but predators are running loose on the streets because prosecutors aren’t doing their jobs. They are a complete disgrace to this entire county as far as we’re concerned. Anyway…just some things to think about…

The big issue of last year’s GOP primary between Judge Gene Knize and Dan Altman centered a lot on this indigent defense wheel list. Knize has now served as 40th District court judge for 20 years.

Here’s a partial list of Ellis County lawyers from the last fiscal year – and how much Ellis County taxpayers are paying them ($565,000 budget; $27,270.25 was in the available balance at the end of the year):

Note: Only seven attorneys are listed of a list of about 10-15; if readers would like the full report, that can be provided for purchase. However, here are attorneys on the indigent defense wheel from the last fiscal year: 10/01/06 — 9/27/07

Attorneys’ hometowns are in parentheses

Mark Griffith (Waxahachie) – $72,503.90

Vance Hinds (Waxahachie) – $36,425

Cindy Ermatinger (Midlothian) – $55,195

Kent McGuire (Waxahachie) – $24,600

Todd Phillippi (Midlothian) – $43,090

Danny Freisner (Waxahachie) – $42,560

Mary Lou Shipley (Waxahachie) – $37,891.44

Dan Altman (Midlothian) – $0

Freisner is the president of the Ellis County Bar Association.

Shipley is the former county attorney.

McGuire’s wife is a former county judge. They vacation with Knize every once in a while in Alaska.

Ermatinger ran for the county court at law No. 2 position in 2002, finishing third in a five-way race.

Phillippi ran as a Libertarian for state Supreme Court last year.

Altman was thrown in there for humor purposes.

The e-mails that JoAnn quoted were only a partial list. The Ellis County Press will publish the rest — the stuff that JoAnn didn’t want readers of her biased establishment paper to read.

TO: Joan Livingston Writer Waxahachie Daily Light

Dear Ms. Livingston,

I used to think you had some ethics! Wow! The incredible length that you and Neal White will
go to is beyond belief!

You invented a scandal out conversations between two friends, obtaining (obviously from
Mr. Beatty, unless he sent copies to someone) private emails. This is utterly outrageous!

I intend to send out as many letters as humanly possible about this corrupt degree of incestuous
relationship between the Daily Light and county judges.

Somehow, even while making a HEADLINE out of what can easily be explained as a
misunderstanding …. based on your own reporting alone ….you could not find the time to write
about the sexual predator cases which caused so much concern over the past few years…in a timely
manner, when you desperately wanted Gene Knize elected, nor now, when you are clearly providing
the campaign of Joe Grubbs with what amounts to a huge financial gift …in the name of “news’.

I am appalled. I never thought you’d stoop this low! This takes the loving cake, Ma’am. Glad you can
sleep at night.

PAUL RICHARD STRANGE SR

You be the judge:

Ennis Cover Ups

* Ennis PD’s Dave Smith Fired
* 1: Ennis PD Corruption
* 2: Ennis PD Corruption
* 3: Ennis PD Corruption
* EPD Corruption & Gene Knize
* Ennis Crack-Down
* EPD Corruption

I faintly remember the news coverage from the Dallas area on this guy in the early 90s — and then the heat this blog got in 2006 for posting all of the controversies surrounding Kos and a letter 40th District Judge Gene Knize, also an Ennis Catholic, wrote on behalf of Kos two weeks before the public was hit with all the sordid details of the molestation.

It was a major controversy in the ’06 election – Knize’s first challenge since 1993– but my questions are spurred mainly by the recent troubles St. John is having to go through – threats to shut it down, etc.

Who was the chief/marshal in the early 90s for Ennis?

Why wasn’t Kos prosecuted in Ellis County?

How did the case get moved to Dallas County?

Where was the Ennis PD on the investigations, the report-taking, etc.?

Why did Knize not get reprimanded for signing off on an endorsement letter for Kos using his official title, a violation of judicial ethics?