Below is our letter of concern regarding Judge Keeble's attempt to divest a combat veteran of his federally protected veteran's benefits:
Jere Beery
American Military Poverty Law Project
Military Veterans Section
POB 882813
1300 Evans
San Francisco, Ca. 94188-2813
4 July 2004
Mr. Fred Roney
Administrator of Courts
Coweta/ Troup County
126 North Hill Street
POB 647
Griffen, Georgia 30224
Fred Roney
Re: (Jere) Beery Divorce Case
National Attention Focused on Violations of Jere Beery's Military Veteran's
Civil Rights
Dear Mr. Roney:
As the American Military Poverty Law Project Project Coordinator working for indigent active duty and military veterans, we have been contacted regarding this civil case. We respectfully refer you to the (Jere) Beery divorce case in the Superior Court of Judge Allen Keeble in Troup County Georgia.
Whether by ignorance, default, or design, it appears that:
- Judge Keeble is violating his oath to promptly obey all decisions handed down by Federal Courts. In this case, it is the US Supreme Court's standing decision in Mansell v Mansell (490 USC, 1988, pp.581-595);
- Judge Keeble is violating clearly stated Federal law and regulations in Title 38 of the US Code, § 5301 (entitled, Nonassignability and Exempt Status of Benefits).
We have been informed that Judge Allen Keeble is attempting to illegally seize Mr. Beery's military disability payments in a divorce case. If this is true, then Judge Keeble's action violates Title 38 of the US Code and Mansell v Mansell (see above).
As you are probably aware, the US Supreme Court has ruled for over 150 years that Federal regulations - in this case for Federal military veterans - are the law of the land, and are to be promptly obeyed. We ask you to advise Judge Keeble regarding the above standing and applicable Federal law and U.S. Supreme Court decision. Mr. Beery's veteran's benefits are Federally protected; they cannot be transferred. Mr. Beery cannot be ordered to transfer those benefits. And, as we understand, Mr. Beery couldn't transfer his own benefits even if he wanted to. In light of this, we ask the good judge to re-think his actions..
The great State of Georgia has given the nation the late Carl Vinson who served honorably as the US Representative and longtime Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee. Additionally, Georgians can rightfully be proud of his nephew, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn. We ask that Judge Keeble and the Georgia Courts respect and preserve veterans' rights - just as Carl Vinson and Sam Nunn have done.
As a courageous 17 year-old Navy man, Beery served honorably in Viet Nam. While there he took a direct mortar hit. Beery sustained major injuries. To this day this combat veteran remains 100% disabled. The Veteran's Administration's disability payments are his only source of income. If Judge Keeble chooses to violate Beery's veteran's rights, how will the honorable judge explain his actions to the rest of the nation?
In 1968, people used to say, "The whole world is watching." Today that is true more than ever. This letter is on the World Wide Web at http://www.amicusveritas.org/jaws/keeble.htm
Sincerely yours,
Peter Paul Ver zola
Project Coordinator
