Judge reprimanded for ‘inappropriate’ tweet concerning abandoned dog case

Dog gonnit!

The animal was abandoned but given back to the owner?

Not enough information here. I am still on the side of the judge.

Regardless, a judge shouldn't be making any comments about a case he is involved in on social media, or anywhere else, except his courtroom.

People forget that if you are in a power position you are not anymore just a civilian, you are the representation of the authority, your comments have by far more weight and can have legal consequences.

Judges should not be on social media. Even though I sympathise with his comment.

“This humiliating [tweet] is causing civilians to lose trust in the court and doubt the fairness of the judicial system.” far as I know no Japanese has trust in the Japanese judicial system hence they commonly refer to it as 'chaban' - a farce

extanker - Regardless, a judge shouldn't be making any comments about a case he is involved in on social media, or anywhere else, except his courtroom.

According to the story -

Although Okaguchi was not involved in the case, he tweeted, “Didn’t you abandon the dog?” referring to the owner who eventually won a suit to reclaim the animal after a good Samaritan had taken care of the abandoned canine. 

The judge was simply stating the truth. The owner had abandoned the dog. After another person had given the dog a GOOD HOME, the owner decided they didn't want to known as a person who abandons dogs so they took their ownership claim to court. Okaguchi correctly pointed out that the original owner HAD chosen to abandon the dog.

@arrestpaul

Thanks for pointing that out. I missed the part that he was not involved in the case.

Still, stay off social media relating to your work. It's just asking for trouble. Now he's going to always be known as the first judge in Japan to be punished for a social media post. Not the best career move.