Is Judge Howard Harcha III hiding information from the citizens of Portsmouth concerning the evidentiary hearing of convicted murderer John Martin Adams? Judge Harcha held an evidentiary hearing in January 2007 trying to see why his court reporter (I believe it is a woman named Connie Porter) can't seem to get the original trial transcript in order.
The 4th Court of Appeals ordered this evidentiary hearing and has threatened to give John Martin Adams a new trial if the trial record is not properly corrected. Adams was convicted of the murder of Portsmouth Community Development Director Bob Burns a couple years ago. Adam's attorney James Banks has been fighting for an appeal for his client but can not get a true and accurate transcript from Judge Harcha's court reporter. The court reporter normally sits in the courtroom and takes her information using shorthand. Many people that witness this in the courtroom complain that there is no way her hand can get all the information down with 2 or 3 or more people talking at one time.
Why would Judge Harcha III allow such an error to occur? Now why has he sealed up the transcript of the hearing in January 2007 to prevent the public from reviewing what went on in the hearing? What is Judge Harcha III hiding?
We will eventually get that record and report to you what we find. Until then Judge Harcha's courtroom should be scrutinized by anyone that enters the doors! Are fair trials being ran in that courtroom? Evidently, NOT!
The 4th Court of Appeals ordered this evidentiary hearing and has threatened to give John Martin Adams a new trial if the trial record is not properly corrected. Adams was convicted of the murder of Portsmouth Community Development Director Bob Burns a couple years ago. Adam's attorney James Banks has been fighting for an appeal for his client but can not get a true and accurate transcript from Judge Harcha's court reporter. The court reporter normally sits in the courtroom and takes her information using shorthand. Many people that witness this in the courtroom complain that there is no way her hand can get all the information down with 2 or 3 or more people talking at one time.
Why would Judge Harcha III allow such an error to occur? Now why has he sealed up the transcript of the hearing in January 2007 to prevent the public from reviewing what went on in the hearing? What is Judge Harcha III hiding?
We will eventually get that record and report to you what we find. Until then Judge Harcha's courtroom should be scrutinized by anyone that enters the doors! Are fair trials being ran in that courtroom? Evidently, NOT!
John Welton (DD)
