Ronald Bodenheimer

Ronald Bodenheimer (1953- ) was a judge in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana convicted of various federal charges resulting, in part, from an FBI probe called Operation Wrinkled Robe. [cite web | title = Disgraced Jefferson Parish Louisiana Judge Ronald Bodenheimer Released From Federal Prison... | work = Bad Cop News | url = http://www.badcopnews.com/2007/09/22/disgraced-jefferson-parish-louisiana-judge-ronald-bodenheimer-released-from-federal-prison-and-home-confinement-to-serve-probation/ | accessdate = 22 September | accessyear = 2007 ] Bodenheimer spent more than three years in federal prison, additional time in a half-way house, and was released on September 21, 2007 to serve the remainder of his term under probation under house confinement. [cite web | title = Disgraced Jefferson Parish Louisiana Judge Ronald Bodenheimer Released From Federal Prison... | work = Bad Cop News | url = http://www.badcopnews.com/2007/09/22/disgraced-jefferson-parish-louisiana-judge-ronald-bodenheimer-released-from-federal-prison-and-home-confinement-to-serve-probation/ | accessdate = 22 September | accessyear = 2007 ]

Bodenheimer began his legal career with the state as a prosecutor with the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office. [cite web | title = Donelon Once Again | work = Gambit Weekly | url = http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2002-08-06/news_feat3.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] In 1999, Bodenheimer won an election to become judge by defeating Jim Donelon , an established politician with overwhelming support by Jefferson Parish elected officials. [cite web | title = Donelon Once Again | work = Gambit Weekly | url = http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2002-08-06/news_feat3.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] Bodenheimer had the reputation of being a "law and order" judge and had been criticized by social activists for his heavy-handed conviction statistics. [ [http://www.blackstrikes.com/pages/da_ronald_bodenheime.htm Recent Research shows Startling Results ] ] During his short term on the bench, Bodenheimer set the Jefferson Parish record for the longest prison sentence, 881 years for a remorseless armed robber. [cite web | title = Benching the Judges | work = Gambit Weekly | url = http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2002-06-18/commentary.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] The abhorrent accusations and the revelation of the judge's apparent double-life shocked most in the New Orleans community, where he was largely respected as an attorney and judge.

Investigations

Bodenheimer owned a seafood marina in Venetian Isles, a suburb within Orleans Parish. [cite web | title = Feds: Judge Sought To Frame Foe | work = WDSU | url = http://www.wdsu.com/news/1499867/detail.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] The media first brought attention to Bodenheimer in 2001 when a teenage worker was electrocuted by a conveyor belt at the marina. [cite web | title = Feds: Judge Sought To Frame Foe | work = WDSU | url = http://www.wdsu.com/news/1499867/detail.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] It was discovered that the seafood marina had been operating without a license since 1999. [cite web | title = Feds: Judge Sought To Frame Foe | work = WDSU | url = http://www.wdsu.com/news/1499867/detail.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] Bodenheimer had already been embroiled in a lawsuit with Venetian Isles residents over Bodenheimer's placing the commercial facility in the largely residential waterfront community.

A particular resident in the Venetian Isles community complained to the FBI about Bodenheimer and the marina, alleging the marina was being used for drug-trafficking. Bodenheimer and a marina employee, in an attempt to silence the vocal resident, planted OxyContin in the resident's possession and attempted to have the man arrested on drug charges. [cite web | title = Feds: Judge Sought To Frame Foe | work = WDSU | url = http://www.wdsu.com/news/1499867/detail.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ]

During the investigation into the framing incident, additional unrelated charges were brought against Bodenheimer for crimes committed in his capacity as a judge. A six-year FBI investigation into corruption at the 24th Judicial District Court, located in Jefferson Parish and where Bodenheimer presided as judge, revealed that a bail bondsman, Louis Marcotte III, had provided meals, trips, and other gifts to judges in exchange for their lowering bond requirements. [cite web | title = Disgraced Jefferson Parish Louisiana Judge Ronald Bodenheimer Released From Federal Prison... | work = Bad Cop News | url = http://www.badcopnews.com/2007/09/22/disgraced-jefferson-parish-louisiana-judge-ronald-bodenheimer-released-from-federal-prison-and-home-confinement-to-serve-probation/ | accessdate = 22 September | accessyear = 2007 ] The investigation, Operation Wrinkled Robe, resulted in 17 convictions, including Bodenheimer, Marcotte, fellow ex-judge Alan Green, and several Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Deputies. [cite web | title = Disgraced Jefferson Parish Louisiana Judge Ronald Bodenheimer Released From Federal Prison... | work = Bad Cop News | url = http://www.badcopnews.com/2007/09/22/disgraced-jefferson-parish-louisiana-judge-ronald-bodenheimer-released-from-federal-prison-and-home-confinement-to-serve-probation/ | accessdate = 22 September | accessyear = 2007 ]

In addition, to the convictions brought through the marina-related drug plant and the bail bond bribery, Bodenheimer was convicted for having provided favorable rulings to restaurant-owner and Popeyes Chicken founder Al Copeland in a child-custody case. [ [http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/bodenheimer_box.htm Judge Ronald Bodenheimer ] ] [cite web | title = Judge rules on Copeland records | work = Times-Picayune | url = http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1152171597119420.xml&coll=1 | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] Bodenheimer confessed that a corporate attorney for a Copeland company had promised Bodenheimer a lucrative seafood contract in exchange for the favorable domestic ruling. [ [http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/bodenheimer_box.htm Judge Ronald Bodenheimer ] ] [cite web | title = Judge rules on Copeland records | work = Times-Picayune | url = http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1152171597119420.xml&coll=1 | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] Further, Bodenheimer confessed he had accepted $16,000 in fuel from a criminal defendant who appeared before his court. [ [http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/bodenheimer_box.htm Judge Ronald Bodenheimer ] ]

Judge Ginger Berrigan sentenced Bodenheimer to 46 months in prison, which exceeded the time prosecutors requested. [ [http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/berrigan_box.htm Judge Berrigan Sentences Judge Bodenheimer ] ] During the sentencing hearing Judge Berrigan stated, "Corruption in the judiciary is worse than corruption in any other branch of government." [ [http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/berrigan_box.htm Judge Berrigan Sentences Judge Bodenheimer ] ]

In 2002, prior to the convictions, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an "interim suspension" of Bodenheimer's license to practice law. [cite web | title = Benching the Judges | work = Gambit Weekly | url = http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2002-06-18/commentary.html | accessdate = 18 January | accessyear = 2008 ] Following the conviction, Bodenheimer "permanently resigned" from the Louisiana bar. [www.ladb.org/CLEMaterials/2005/PlattsmierText.pdf]

References