When it comes to money, the court takes things seriously.  For example, in Marion, Alabama, Perry County Circuit Court officials had a big court session to deal with some outstanding debts.  However, court costs are a lot of money, and when it comes to paying them back, it’s not something most people can just cut a check for. Time is needed, usually more time than the law allows.  However, a judge had a clever solution to a problem. Judge Marvin Wiggins offered defendants the chance to donate blood to avoid going to jail.

“If you do not have any money and you don’t want to go to jail, consider giving blood today and bring me your receipt back,” said Alabama Judge Marvin Wiggins to a full courtoom of defendants on September 17.  “Or the sheriff has enough handcuffs for those who do not have money.”

Of course, not everyone likes the creativity.  The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a complaint against the judge, who has faced ethics-related issues previously.  The defendants did not receive the promised discount on their court fees, nor did donating blood excuse the payment of the fines.  All it did was help raise blood for good causes and allow the defendants a chance to stay out of jail to pay their court fines at a later date.  Unsurprisingly, the defendants in question were not told they were getting called in to pay court costs and one was told by the circuit clerk not to bring a lawyer.

Tags: marion, alabama, marvin wiggins, judge marvin wiggins, perry county, law and order, unusual legal commands, unusual judicial orders, give blood or go to jail, give blood to avoid jail for fines, court fines or give blood, unusual legal mandates

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