The last time I reported to you on events in Ellsworth, Maine and the bar proceedings against Mary Kellett on behalf of Vladek Filler I used the term “The fix is in.”
Well, folks, the fix is in.
It is not that you need a crystal ball to see the rampant back slapping and corruption pervading the legal community in that part of the country. All you need to do is take a look at the major players in the case and their conduct toward Filler and each other.
Here is the cast in this cheesy, off Broadway production of Justice, Ellsworth Style.
First, there is ADA Mary Kellett, the sociopath prosecutor whose main interest in life is incarcerating anything in jeans.
There is her boss, played by District Attorney Carletta Bassano, who quietly administers a legally organized racket for the VAWA funded “no drop” prosecutions that Kellett pursues.
Then there is Paul Cavenaugh, cast as the First Assistant District Attorney for the office, errand boy and pinch hitter that steps in when Kellett’s misconduct draws too much heat.
Next we have corrupt Judge Robert E. Murray, playing the role of the trial judge at the Filler rape and assault charades, whose main prop is a gavel that doubles as a rubber stamp.
We then meet the other characters in the final act of this three part play; an assortment of bit players. First there is J. Scott Davis, Bar Counsel (our pick for a plastic Tony) whose character pursues a case against Kellett for breaking every legal canon in existence, and for being a filthy scumbag in general.
Davis is “opposed” by Ronald Lupton, who is an Assistant State Attorney General sent down from the capital to safeguard Maine’s reputation as one of the most politically corrupt states in the union.
And then there is the three member Bar Panel, whose names don’t even rate being mentioned in the credits. They are more like props than players; mannequins set behind a desk; looking official but serving no real purpose because the outcome has already been determined.
The same can be said for every member of the local media “covering” the case.
As the curtain closes, and Mary Kellett gets her laughable slap on the wrist, most of the audience will yawn, file out of the theater in search of cheese covered wacky fries and something very, very strong to wash them down with.
At least, that is what we will be telling you in a few weeks when the Bar Panel issues its “ruling.”
The play will be reviewed by Bill Trotter of the Bangor Daily News in the form of a “story,” or “coverage” if you prefer, but “story” is really the better word.
How do I know all this? Well, because I have seen the script, of course. And I am going to share part of it with you today.
Bar Counsel J. Scott Davis’ final written argument to the Bar Panel on Kellett’s case, pleads for the swift justice of a reprimand against her. (That is Ellsworth-speak for “Good job, Mary, now go get those VAWA Bucks by fucking with some more innocent men!”)
He also sent at letter to Filler, dutifully explaining why the mountain of evidence against Kellett that he refused to address in the case would also not be included in his final arguments, and why he wasn’t going to allow Filler’s presentation of that evidence to be routed to the Bar Panel through his office.
The explanation ran something along the lines of ‘Well, I didn’t bring up all the really damning evidence against Kellett at the hearing, so why start now?’
I will give the production some points for creative presentation. It is a comedy in which almost no one laughs, and a tragedy in which almost no one cries. It is both phony and credible, deadly serious and a monstrous joke. It is at once surreal and concretely realistic, and it tells the story of the worst of our supposedly very best people, and the best of our supposedly very worst.
And when you read the story in the Bangor Daily News a few weeks from now about how Mary Kellett got a reprimand for her little misunderstanding, you will be able (if they allow comments) to link them back to this piece on AVFM, where we report the news before it happens.
When all is said and done, this is not just a low budget stage play, but a dog and pony show designed to keep the real circus of corruption and avarice alive. Its only real saving grace is that it has inspired some members of the audience to bring a surprise or two to the epilogue.
I’d say more, but I didn’t give a spoiler warning.
The curtain closes on justice
