Real Talk with Judge Dawson - When Greatness Shows Up!

The NBA finals, game 6 was outstanding.   The commentators mentioned that LeBron James came out to practice his shooting two hours before the game.  When LeBron was done, Dwayne Wade came out and began his practicing.  These are the moments that separate the winners in life from those who just get by.  It wasn’t enough that they had won a championship before.  It wasn’t enough that they made it to the finals.  They still wanted to win and they were willing to do whatever it took to get there.  That’s when greatness shows up.   The level of competition in Game 6 was on a higher level and the players gave it their all.  In the end LeBron James and the Miami Heat showed a resilience that took them over the top.  In fact, their will to win was on display as they utilized that last few minutes of the game to stage a come back win.

Then on to the last game.  Game 7 was another example of greatness.  LeBron James, once again, solidified himself as the absolute best basketball player in the world.  Here are the take aways from the Miami Heat’s second straight championship:

When Greatness shows up it is a result of hard work.  Hard work starts in the dark.  What I mean by that statement is that the hard work, to move yourself to greatness, is the work you do when no one is looking.  It’s the times that you are working on your craft or studying when all your friends are having fun.  It’s the dedication to disciplines when every one else is used to unreserved fun and indulgence.  When you put in the hard work, your greatness will develop.

When Greatness shows up it is humble.  When LeBron won the championship this time around, there was a mixture of celebration and humble reflection.  The one statement that plays in the heart and mind of so many people was when LeBron said that he is blessed because he is “just a boy from Ohio....I’m not supposed to be here.”  That is the essence of being humble, always realizing that success can be a short lived event, but to know where it all began and to respect the fact that it can easily be taken away is that humbleness needed for longterm happiness.  How can being humble lead to happiness?  One way is that when the lights go out, when the titles go away, the fact that you chose not to focus on the labels and you chose to be humble, will put you in the position where you can deal with the ups and downs with out letting the current situation control you.  

When Greatness shows up it is full of confidence.  If you watched the entire NBA finals series you would have witnessed the great play of former Cleveland Cavaliers  Danny Greene.  Danny broke the all time record for the number of three pointers in a NBA finals.  I was so impressed that I thought that he had surely positioned him self to be a highly paid player in the upcoming season.  However, all this changed when the series went into Game 6 & 7.  Danny was not able to perform well at all.  I won’t spend the time trying to analyze what he did wrong and the possible reasons for the melt down.  I will say that when LeBron James had his back against the wall and the game was on the line, LeBron continued to shoot the ball whereas Danny Greene couldn’t get a single shot to go in.  That leads to my point on greatness, when greatness shows up it walks through the door with confidence.  LeBron is so confident in his abilities that even when he’s going through a slump he will keep shooting.  For us to be great, we have to stay in the game and keep shooting even when the times get hard.

When Greatness shows up its a result of continuous focused growth.

The way that any person or team achieves maximum potential, or the definite way to stay out of jail, is to be focused and intentional about your growth.  Teams don’t win championships by chance.  It’s the dedication to the cause, the dedication to being the best that you can be, the dedication to winning that gives them the talent to rise to the level of champion.  I previously wrote about LeBron James spending countless hours in the gym during his summer vacation so that he could master new skills.  Even in our everyday lives we have to continue to be focused and dedicated to growth.  We should master the latest skills in our area of choice so that we can be the best that we can be.

East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission is to use every ounce of his body to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  To receive a copy of his newsletter reach out by: 

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

The Truth Shall Set You Free!

In my years as Judge I have come across some of the most amazing situations.  Some are joyous, like when a person completes my Cycle Breaker / Finish First System comes to Court and publicly thanks me for the program and I can actually see the change in them.  Some are sad, like times when the same people are in and out of my Court for the same offenses.  One thing that remains constant for both of those situations is that the “Truth Shall Set You Free.”  Being truthful with yourself and others will set you free from discouragement, failure and further legal problems. 

There was a man in my Court charged with having an open container, crack stem and being disorderly.  He was well spoken and very forthright with all that he did, taking full responsibility for his arrest.  While discussing his situation he mentioned that there was a time when the Veterans Association offered to help him with his drinking problem.  I inquired further so that I could determine if this case should be transferred to the special docket handled by a neighboring court or if I could offer him help for his addiction.  This man looked directly at me and told me that the VA tried to help him but he walked away from it.  He said, “to be honest Judge, I don’t want any help.  I am an alcoholic and I want to die an alcoholic.”  

I’ve witness resistance to change before.  I’ve experienced people who struggle with staying in the programs aimed to help effect change, but this was a different situation.  I came face to face with a person I wanted to help but simply did not want to help himself.  We looked at each other for a few seconds with silence, and that time of silence felt like several minutes, until I said, “O.K. you are surely grown enough to make your own decisions.”  I advised him that this type of behavior, if repeated, will cause him to spend time in jail.  He told me that he understood, thanked me for understanding his position and went on his way.

What did I learn from this candid yet sad situation?  I learned that “the truth will set you free.”  Meaning, it is better to face your truth and deal with it so that you are free from the burden of carrying a lie.  Had this man accepted my attempt to find him treatment, he would have been forced to act out a lie and it would have been difficult for him to avoid jail time when his compliance with my terms would determine his fate.  Instead, the truth set him free.  

Being a Cycle Breaker requires that you know when to hold them, when to fold them and when to walk away.  Not everyone can be saved.  Not every one can benefit from the compassion that I have for my people. There are groups of us who will continue to spiral out of control.  There are groups of youth who will fail to understand the value of education based on their generational experiences.  Their are young people who will make the adult choice to have a child regardless of the number of times they are advised to wait.  

My mission as a Cycle Breaker, with over 13 years of experience in studying human behavior and predictable patterns of action, is to give people the tools to live an extraordinary life.  However, once I pass the blessing, it’s up to the receiver to utilize the information.  If you and I both act in this manner, giving people the tools, advise and resources to make better decisions, and they still act in opposition to their best self, we have spoken our truth and performed like Cycle Breakers because we know that Cycle Breakers Finish First.

East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission is to use every ounce of his body to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  To receive a copy of his newsletter reach out by: 

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Success or Failure is in the Inches

By now you know that I’m a sports guy.  To be specific, I enjoy watching people performing at their highest level.  I enjoy watching athletes and people being and doing their best.  So this is my take away from Game 1 of the 2013 NBA finals where the Miami Heat are being challenged by the San Antonio Spurs.  (I am fully aware that Miami won Game 2 in a dominating style, but this article is still relevant).  Success and Failure is in the Inches.  During Game 1 the Spurs were down for much of the second, third and fourth quarter.  However this all changed when the Spurs turned up the intensity and eventually the game was sealed for the spurs when Tony Parker went for a jump-shot right as the shot clock (time to make the shot) was about to expire.  The replay indicated that Parker made the shot and had his hands off the ball with in seconds from the clock expiring.  The ball was only inches off of his hands as the clock expired.  It was the inches that determined his success or failure! 

This has a direct application to staying out of jail, navigating the legal system and living your best life.  If you look at your life you’ll see that most of your SUCCESSES were from positive disciplines practiced everyday for many years. You graduated from school because you made sure you attended and studied everyday.  You were able to get that dream job because you made sure you worked years toward having qualifications to make sure you were ready.  Being successful over the long run requires hard work.  To put in the hard work you have to be disciplined.  Being disciplined means doing the work every day toward your long term goals.  On the other hand, your FAILURES were from errors in judgment made every day for many years.  for example, most people don’t wake up weighing 300 pounds. That type of weight is usualaly a result of daily errors in judgment or failures of discipline made everyday over long periods of time. Another example if going to jail.  You didn’t just wake up one day to find yourself in jail.  Most likely there was a negative thought in your mind, was an error in judgment.  This thought was brought to life when an opportunity presented it self.  This opportunity was birthed when there was a decision to act.  Based on these series of errors in judgment, later on down the line, even years later, you found yourself in jail.  That’s the road that many events we call failures take, it’s the little negative things, repeated daily, that add up to the big failures. Where as positive disciplines practiced everyday will lead to your success.

It’s just like taking a trip.  On your road of life, if you are trying to get to California from Ohio you’d better use the proper map and then make sure you stay on course.  It may take a while to get there but as long as you are disciplined with positive steps you will reach your destination.  However, if you start going south, inch by inch, making a short stop in Cincinnati and then to Alabama, if you don’t get going in the right direction you will never reach your goal.  The worst part about the inches is that you will end up in the wrong position or destination and not even know why.  When I was in the Shaw High School Mighty Cardinal Marching Band we took pride in our field show and making sure we were in perfect sync.  I recall learning a new routine where I’d try to march and play drums at the same time.  There were times when I would pay too much attention to the drumming instead of the marching.  Whenever this happened, sure enough, I would look up and be a little off the line.  To me it was no big deal, but to the overall goal of having a perfect formation, I messed up.

When you choose success over failure, when you choose to use discipline everyday instead of making and accepting errors, you are a Cycle Breaker.  Being a Cycle Breaker means you understand that the inches in your life are important.  The inches of making sure your children respect education.  The inches of making sure parents don’t exemplify bad behavior in front of the children.  The inches of going to work on time and giving a 100% effort.  The inches of not putting yourself at risk of loosing your license.  The inches of not being around any person who will cause you to go to jail.  All of those actions take discipline.  Practice discipline everyday.  If you want to be a Cycle Breaker know that daily errors will lead to failure but daily disciplines will lead to your success.



East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission is to use every ounce of his body to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  To receive a copy of his newsletter reach out by:
judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com
www.Judgedawson.com

LeBron James Changed His Shoes!!!

Real Talk with Judge Dawson


It was Game 5 of the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference finals, the Indiana Pacers where continuing to give the Miami Heat a very challenging night.  Most people who watched the game agree that the Pacers “should’ve” been up by at least 10 points before the half time.  However, due to mistakes, missed shots and fouls the game was close.  In the third quarter of the game LeBron, once again, showed that he is still a focused and determined young man by scoring or assisting in 25 of the Miami Heat’s 30 points for that quarter.  Following are the three things that LeBron James did to turn that game around and act like a Cycle Breaker.   As you will see, we can apply these same actions to our lives to be the best that we can be and avoid negative interaction with the legal system.

LeBron engaged in serious reflection and analyzation.  Specifically, LeBron shared choice words with his team that included cursing as well as encouragement.  When we are faced with challenging situations.  When life is not going in the direction that we want it to go, it’s time for serious reflection and analyzation.  I tell people in my Court everyday that going to court, going to jail or getting in trouble should not be a regular part of your life.  These situations should not become normal.  If they are normal to you then its time to go in different direction.  The first step in going in different direction is to do what LeBron did, engage in serious reflection and analysis.  You don’t have to curse anyone out but you have to take a hard look at your situation and expect better for yourself.

LeBron went into the locker room and changed his shoes.  LeBron took the ceremonial step of changing his shoes.  Now of course the story from the media was that his other shoes were defective in some way, but that’s not how I saw it.  In fact, after watching LeBron play for many years in Cleveland, I knew that he was engaging in a ceremonial yet motivational action.  By changing his shoes, he was releasing himself from the person he was or performance that he gave in the first half.  He was telling himself that this is a fresh start, a new beginning and a new opportunity to be extraordinary.  For us, we need to ceremonially change our shoes.  It can be a change in our environment, or changing our telephone number so that he/she can’t call us anymore.  When you take the physical step to disconnect from something that you want to walk away from, you are setting yourself up to win.

LeBron gave it 100% and took full responsibility for the outcome.  In a post game interview LeBron said that his teammates seemed like they were “waiting” for something to happen.  So in order for the team to achieve their greatness he had to put the team on his back and carry them to the win.  In our lives we must take 100% responsibility for the situation that we find ourselves in.  You can always blame someone else, but you can not control the other person.  The only person who you can control is you.  Therefore, it’s a waste of time blaming someone else when you can not do anything about them.  I know from experience how it is sometimes hard to take responsibility.  I know a person who was fired based on poor performance but convinced himself that the employer discriminated against him.  That person will never change or better himself because he is in denial about his problem area.  By taking 100% responsibility, you are forcing yourself to change the only thing that you can - YOU.  Then, after you take 100% responsibility, give it everything that you’ve got.  Work hard toward achieving your goals.  Put it all on yourself.  Make it so that if you don’t win, you can only blame yourself.

LeBron James came out in the third quarter of game 5 and turned it on.  He tapped into his greatness when he 1. reflected & analyzed his situation, 2. ceremonially changed his shoes and 3. took 100% responsibility for where he was and decided to put his goals on his back and work to achieve his desired outcome.

Being a Cycle Breaker, thereby changing your life, your family and your community takes hard work and dedication.  You deserve better than going to jail and being caught in the legal system.  Stay in the game and remember that Cycle Breakers Finish First.

East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission is to use every ounce of his body to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  To receive a copy of his newsletter reach out by:
judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com
www.Judgedawson.com

The Art of Staying Out of Jail

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

“Hello, my Name is Judge William L. Dawson and I’m a man from East Cleveland who has endured life’s temptations, its’ ups and downs and its’ tragedies.”  That’s normally the introduction for those involved in treatment programs across this country.  I submit that we all, at one time or another, need treatment.  Whether we are dealing with a life changing event or the ripple effect of someone else’s actions, we all can use some words of wisdom every now and then. This column, “Real Talk with Judge Dawson” will be a treatment and empowerment tool.   After more than 11 years as a criminal defense attorney and now as a Judge, my mission is to use every ounce of my body to help people be the best that they can be.

With that in mind, in the year 2013, staying out of jail has become a science. It truly takes knowledge and action to avoid the untimely event of an arrest.  So as Judge of the East Cleveland Municipal Court I have created programs and procedures that will aid in the ability to avoid negative interaction with the Legal System.

The Science of Staying Out of Jail:

1.  Do The Right Thing - The easiest way to stay out of jail is this, “Don’t break the law.”  Sounds simple but as we all know, it’s easier said than done.  From driving charges, to relationship charges staying out of the legal system is getting harder but if you aim to do the right thing you’ll be on the right track.

2.  Finish First - Finish First is my favorite theory.  In fact, you’ll be hearing a lot about “Finish First” in future columns.  The bottom line is that you must “Begin with the End in Mind”!  That means, think about the future outcome or result of your actions before you begin.

3.  Know Who Holds The Ball - In every sport the person holding the ball is the person in control.  The other team is forced to play defense or try to take the ball.  In the science of jail avoidance the same holds true.  The people with the ball are in control.  So who’s holding the ball?  The police officers (who have the power to charge and arrest you), the prosecutor (who prosecutes you for the offense) and the Judge (who can put you in jail).  It doesn’t matter how much you want to control your legal situations, you don’t.  Understanding that you don’t control the ball will keep you from unnecessary negative results. 

4.  Comply, comply, comply - When an officer or the Court tells you to do something, it is always in your best interest to do it.  Now of course we all have rights, but the key is to know when to assert those rights or, in other words, when to fight the “I have rights” battle.  When an officer or the Court tells you to do something, just do it and fight it later.

Judge William L. Dawson

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Do People Really Get Second Chances?

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

So you’ve been in trouble.  You’ve paid your debt to society and even repented to God.  Now you’re ready to re-join the community, but everywhere you turn the doors are closed in your face.  You listen to the advise of people who tell you to try a few of the options available to you, so instead of getting discouraged you try, what I call, the non-option options:

Non Option #1 Expungement: Expungements are available for some people, but not the masses.  The expungement law has requirements that many people are unable to meet. (Future articles will focus on the pros and cons of the new expungement laws).

Non Option #2 Jobs who hire felons: There are some jobs that hire felons, but when you think of the fact that 1 in 30 American’s are under some form of correctional supervision the competition for these few jobs is getting very stiff.

Non Option #3 Back to the Streets: This is the “granddaddy of all non-option’s).  The fact is that returning to hustling will lead right back to the dead end of death or prison.

The sad fact is that, many of the doors that claim to be open are really closed. 

So with all of the “non-options” what’s left for a person seeking redemption to to?  Unfortunately there is no easy way to restore the trust and employability in today’s job market.  In fact, the one way to get back to your rightful place in society is to aggressively forge your on path. 

As for me, I’m a Cycle Breaker.  I ran my campaign for Judge on the platform of “second chances.”  I know first hand what it’s like to be stripped of everything that you thought was important, to be forced to re-connect with your basic self.  So after I was elected as Judge I’ve kept two campaign promises:

1.                 I am extremely committed to helping people realize their greatness and to become the best that they can be.  I do this through my training, disposition of cases and outreach.

2.                 I am committed to giving people second chances.  I promise not to judge a person based on their past record.  I make sure that the person’s past alone does not determine their future with the East Cleveland Court.  In keeping that promise, I hired two young men who have records.  Why would I take the political risk of hiring people with a criminal history?  First, because I don’t consider myself a politician, I am a servant of God and as Judge I am here to do God’s will. Second, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes.  Growing up in East Cleveland I experienced and dealt with the same temptations that our youth are experiencing today.  It would be hypercritical of me to become Judge and then turn my back on those who have paid their debt to society.  I was given a change at redemption and I will continue to give those opportunities. 

Story after story I hear of people with past criminal records being promised all types of jobs and opportunities.  This especially occurs with elected officials who need immediate help on a campaign.  I could not be that type of person.  I have been told, advised and counseled against hiring a person with a past record.  I choose to reject the normal tendency to stereotype and discriminate against people who have made mistakes.  Instead, I take the opportunity to get to know the person behind the record.  If the person has proven himself trustworthy and dependable, I will give them a second chance, even if that decision is not popular.

So If you have a criminal record and you are trying to get back into society, what should you do?

1.  Be an entrepreneur.  Find a niche and fill it.  In other words, start your own enterprise.  Don’t let the mistakes of your past determine your future.  In doing this, make sure you keep your positive attitude and motivation when the doors are closed in your face, believe me it’s going to happen.  The critics will come.  I’m still dealing with those who criticize my hiring decisions, but staying the course will change the community.

2.  Go back to school and load up on so many certifications and degrees that you can not be denied.

3.  Find an employer who is serious about second chances.  Be honest about what you experienced in the past, and make sure to highlight how those experiences will make you the perfect match for that particular company. 

When working either option, be sure to plan and execute on that plan.  Remember Cycle Breakers Finish First. 

Drunk Driving!

DRUNK DRIVING!

Drunk driving is no new to our community.  Drunk driving has been negatively affecting lives for many years.  In my Court we have several DUI/OVI charges every week.  To my disappointment, I’m finding that the offenders are getting younger and younger.  I don’t know if it’s the music, the media or lack of education but more and more people are drinking to the point of intoxication and deciding to drive a vehicle. 

FACTS ABOUT DUI/OVI’s:

·      Punishment for your first offense includes a minimal term in jail of three days to a maximum of 180 days, six-month suspension of your driver’s license and up to a $1,075 fine. 

·      Every subsequent DUI increases the monetary fine, license suspension and jail time.

·      Refusing to blow during the intoxication test will result in an immediate suspension of your driver’s license. 

THE WHY BEHIND THE DUI/OVI:

I’m not going to suggest that I know all the reasons that a person would choose to drive a vehicle while intoxicated but here are a few:

·      DENIAL – Many people think that they can drink and then handle a vehicle.  In other words “I’m not too drunk to drive.”  The problem with this thought is that if your reason to drink is to “relieve some stress” or “take you to another state of mind” It is only smart to know that the effect of a drink “easing your mind” will result in an “easing” of your ability to operate a vehicle.  When you are not in your fully functioning state of mind, controlling a vehicle is dangerous and illegal.

·      FOLLOWING THE CROWD – This happens to both teens and adults.  When someone asks you to drink or offers you a drink “No thank you” is not the normal response.  Though “no thank you” should be the response when you have to drive, for some reason we feel that its’ not socially accepted when we chose not to drink.  Take it from me, when you are the person driving a car, the strong person is the one willing to refuse a drink.  Refusing to put your life and the life of others at risk shows that you are responsible and careful about your business.  In fact, we should begin to question the social acceptance of a person willing to drink and drive.  Should that person be my friend?  Should I even be around that person?  Those are the questions that will change attitudes and behaviors in regard to drinking and driving.

·      ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL – Addiction is a serious problem in our community. There are several reasons that a person becomes addicted to alcohol. It could be the exposure that they have from family and friends.  It could be a fight with depression.  Regardless the reason, alcohol addiction should be taken seriously.  If you are addicted to alcohol you have to get help.  If someone you know is addicted to alcohol, you have to get him or her help.  Failure to get help or to bring this to the addicted person’s attention can result in harm to that person, someone else or even you.  It’s not enough to model the appropriate behavior when it comes to drinking; we also have to be bold enough to call our loved ones out about their problem.  It is truly a matter of life or death.

THE NEW DUI/OVI LAW:

         On April 17, 2013 the United States Supreme Court made a decision that will impact DUI’s across this country.  In the case of Missouri v. McNeely, The Supreme Court held that when officers in drunk-driving investigations can reasonably obtain a warrant before having a blood sample drawn without significantly undermining the immediate necessity of the search, the Fourth Amendment mandates that they do so.  In that case McNeely was stopped by a Missouri police officer for speeding and crossing the centerline. After declining to take a breath test to measure his blood alcohol concentration (BAC), he was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital for blood testing. The officer never attempted to secure a search warrant. McNeely refused to consent to the blood test, but the officer directed a lab technician to take a sample. McNeely’s BAC tested well above the legal limit, and he was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).  The Supreme Court ruled that this action was a violation of McNeely’s rights.

         In your everyday life, this decision by the Supreme Court does not change much.  You will still be stopped if there is suspicion of drunk driving, you will still have a license suspension if you refuse to blow for the test and officers can still get a warrant to test your blood.  The bottom line is that we need to stop drinking and driving.  Too many innocent lives are put at risk based on the selfish decision to drink and drive.  Be a cycle breaker, before you drink and drive, think about the end result or, as I always say, Finish First! 

Judge William L. Dawson
East Cleveland Municipal Court

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.Judgedawson.com