After Prince George's County, Maryland District Court Judge Richard A. Palumbo, 67, caused an accident in the Port Tobacco area on August 20, state police have refused to cite him for the incident. According to the police reports cited by the Washington Post, Palumbo was driving on Chapel Point Road in a 2002 Ford F-150 belonging to a cement company. At around 1pm, Palumbo failed to yield the right-of-way and turned left into the 2004 Nissan Xterra belonging to Kimberly A. Corlette, 32, causing enough damage that her SUV was undriveable.

According to Corlette, Palumbo intimidated her and urged her not to call the police, saying, "I'm a judge. You're going to be in trouble."

This is not the first time Maryland state police have let Palumbo go free. On February 17, a state trooper voided a $140 speeding ticket he had given to Palumbo in Mitchellville for driving 59 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. The officer wrote in a memo to his superior, "On 02/17/04 the listed citation was issued to Judge Palumbo from Prince George's Court. Please void citation. Thanks for your consideration in this matter."

Palumbo served as a state legislator from 1979-83.