Diane Tran Does Not Deserve A Criminal Record For Trying To Support Her Siblings and Attend High School

What is going on with the Texas legal system?  They let Robert A. Durst, a New York multimillionaire who admitted that he had butchered his 71-year-old neighbor with a bow saw and dumped his body parts into Galveston Bay, be acquitted of murder yet lock a 17 year-old honor student in jail for missing class because she is so tired from working two jobs to support her siblings.   LINK. 

From the video it appears Judge Moriarty simply thinks a 17 year-old girl spending a night in jail is no big deal. Has he lost touch with his constituents?  A criminal record for an honors student is no big deal? Diane Tran is a 17 year-old honor student working two jobs to support her siblings and he throws her in jail because she misses some school.  Can you say "black robe itis?" (Editor's note:  this is a phrase used to describe a judge whose time on the bench has destroyed his connection to common citizens.)

After listening to this judge speak, his rational appear at best troubling and more likely the words of a cold uncaring man undeserving of the position of "judge."  Exactly the kind of individual who needs to be scrutinized come election time. Diane Tran was forced to spend the night in jail last week

because she missed too much time from Willis High School.  This junior works two jobs and goes to high school in order to help support her two siblings since her parents divorced.  (Tran's parents no longer live in the area since the divorce.) Tran takes AP Spanish, college level algebra and dual credit English and history courses. When she is too tired, she sometimes misses school.  She continues to get good grades and turns in her homework.

While Texas law provides that a student with ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period, MAY BE referred to a juvenile court, it is not mandatory.  Furthermore, jail time IS NOT mandatory. Consequently it appear that Willis Independent School District as well as the Judge failed to exercise the discretion common sense mandates in such situations. According to KHOU-11, Tran spent one night in jail and was fined $100!*  LINK. That makes no sense whatsoever with a girl who misses school because she needs to work.

HelpDianeTran.com has been set up by the Louisiana Children's Education Alliance in partnership with Anedot and Gatorworks.  However, a "help educate this judge on common sense and compassion site" may be even more appropriate. 


*Judge Lanny Moriarty did warn Tran last month to quit missing school. When she recently missed classes again, he issued a summons and had her arrested in open court