Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408290058
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
Sitting Bull came out of a crowd of men and women who had gathered on a grassy plain to decry racism and sexism. He gave Cloud a feathered bonnet, a new name - ``Thunder'' Cloud - and a mission to warn people to fight prejudice and guard the independence of the judiciary.
``I don't apologize for the vision,'' said Cloud, a 61-year-old part Cherokee who has been a judge for eight years. ``I'm kind of self-conscious about it at times. I can't explain it. But this thing happened. It's not controlling, but it has significance.''
Among a state judicial corps of stern faces atop dark robes, Cloud would have to be viewed as out of the ordinary. He visits inner-city neighborhoods in Indian dress to talk to youngsters about the court system. He challenges the city's prosecutors for not handling violent misdemeanor cases.
Cloud has written a long letter to the state's four U.S. Senate candidates in which he describes himself as ``a Savage'' who stands up ``against the disease many call civilization, but which is in reality greed and hunger for power so that a few families can be safe and comfortable, while those of the people must suffer and know no peace.''
Cloud is regarded as eccentric by some attorneys, although none will talk about him on the record.
Commonwealth's Attorney Charles D. Griffith Jr., who has been a target of Cloud's criticism, suggested - but would not say explicitly - that the judge's complaint against him is politically based. Cloud is a Democrat; Griffith is a Republican.
``We're not talking about politics,'' the judge said, adding that his criticism last year of crowding in the Norfolk jail probably contributed to the defeat of Democratic Sheriff David Mapp.
``I have friends who say, `Why don't you get smart? Sit back, play golf, retire,''' Cloud said. ``I can't do that.''
He may be gone from the bench in a few years, anyway. Cloud hinted that he does not expect to be reappointed when his term ends in 1998.
But for now, he presses on. This month, he sent a letter to the attorney general asking to have a regular prosecutor assigned to his court to help the mostly black and often female victims that he sees every day.
In Cloud's courtroom, victims of such things as domestic abuse and gun threats often have to press their own complaints by going to a magistrate and then to court, because prosecutors do not have enough time or money to send someone to handle the cases.
``We ought to be handling every crime, whether it's jaywalking or capital murder,'' said Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Humphreys. ``But I can't do that unless I have the resources.''
Cloud contends that if defendants deserve court-appointed lawyers, so do victims.
``How can anyone say it's fair for only one side to have a lawyer?'' he wrote in the letter to the Senate candidates.
Cloud said his vision has become a ``commission and duty,'' and that as a judge he has to speak out.
``If I can't work to improve the system, I shouldn't be here,'' he said.
by CNB