JLF’s John Hood delves into the fascinating outburst from Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens related to the case of convicted felon Jim Black, the state’s former Speaker of the House. Stephens’ comments relate to questions raised about the value of a piece of land Black has turned over to help satisfy his $1 million fine. From Hood’s column:

In court Thursday to announce his final sentencing decision – to give Black the minimum sentence, served concurrently with his federal time – Stephens reacted angrily to the criticism of the Black land deal. He called Margiotta’s comments “idiotic.” And Stephens summoned the Wake school system’s attorney before him for a tongue-lashing.

“Criticism from those receiving the gift really kind of puts a chilling effect on judges and the courts system that are working really hard for their benefit,” Stephens also said. “It is not appreciated. I don’t even understand it, quite frankly. In my 25 years on the bench, I have never seen anything quite like that.”

Well, the judge has a few years on me, but in my 20 years writing about the intersection of North Carolina politics and the judiciary, I have never seen anything quite like Stephens’ intemperate rant. Among other things, the performance has now made the conduct of Stephens himself part of the story in a way that it previously was not, and provides skeptics even more reason to suspect how Black’s state fine has been handled.

It’s the story that just keeps on giving.