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Judge Reprimanded for Calling Three Black Female Lawyers "The Supremes"
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Here's a charming local story you might have missed: a county judge calls three black female public defenders "the Supremes" in court and tells their client he'd be better off with "an experienced male attorney."
The Associated Press reported last week that Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone "has acknowledged that his comments suggested racial and sexual bias," but insists that he meant no harm: "In his written response to a complaint, Boone said he was trying to protect the three public defenders from representing a difficult defendant."
And they say chivalry is dead.
The Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities -- are sexism and racism disabilities? -- concluded that Boone's remarks were "undignified and disparaging" and the judge has recused himself from the case.
More sordid details here.
Tagged as: racism, sexism, criminal justice, bias, courtroom
Liliana Segura is an AlterNet staff writer and editor of the Rights & Liberties section.
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