In New York, a judge can now overrule a doctor in a medical diagnosis

That's exactly what judge Kevin M. Dowd did, by forcing me, as a defense attorney in a civil jury trial case, to go to trial while it was impossible for me because of my back injury to appear.

The back injury was diagnosed, documented, with a doctor's note provided to the court.

When I did not appear, because of a legitimate medical leave, the judge just dismissed the jury and conducted a bench trial.  

And the whole reason for not giving me an adjournment was ostensibly the inconvenience for the jurors.

I knew only one other judge who constantly diagnosed medical conditions in Delaware County courts, it's Judge Carl F. Becker.

Based on his "diagnoses" at trials, he is a dentist, an eye doctor, an OB/GYN, a surgeon and what not else.

Now Judge Dowd joined the ranks.

And I thought practicing medicine without a license was a crime...