County Commissioner Curtis Adams, citing "another recent case of bad judgment from one of our magistrates," said the magistrate system "has become a cancer on our judicial system in Hamilton County."
He said, "I would hope that all the Judges and Hamilton County commissioners would demand changes immediately."
Commissioner Adams said parttime magistrate Jim Purple "set a $1,000 bond for a defendant charged with a felony child abuse. This man walked after paying $100.
"A little three-year-old girl suffered two black eyes, busted mouth and lip, plus terrific bruises on her buttocks, back, and legs.
"This defendant was arrested on Dec. 22, just three days before Christmas. Can you imagine what kind of Christmas this little girl had?
"This animal should have been jailed without bond. There is not one single Sessions Court Judge in this County that would release this man on a $1,000 bond.
"The inconsistency in bonds is not acceptable. The bad judgment and lack of knowledge of the law must be changed. I again state we need to disband what we have and start over with a higher caliber group of attorneys to fill these positions or kill the program. Now is the time to exert leadership and correct a disgraceful situation."