Federal judge accused of making racial comments
Source: AP
A coalition of civil rights organizations filed a judicial misconduct complaint Tuesday against a conservative federal judge for comments she allegedly made during a speech that are seen as discriminatory.
Judge Edith Jones of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans addressed the University of Pennsylvania law school on Feb. 20. Her comments were not recorded, but five students and one attorney who were in attendance signed affidavits on what was said.
Those were used to generate a 12-page complaint filed in New Orleans stating that Jones has engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts, undermines public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, and creates a strong appearance of impropriety.
Jones is accused of saying that certain racial groups like African-Americans and Hispanics are predisposed to crime, and are prone to commit acts of violence and be involved in more violent and heinous crimes than people of other ethnicities.
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/federal-judge-accused-of-making-racial-comments/nYB4Y/
PSPS
(13,626 posts)Wiki says, "In her opinions, she has questioned the legal reasoning which legalized abortion, advocated streamlining death penalty cases, invalidated a federal ban on possession of machine guns and advocated toughening bankruptcy laws."
Yep, she's one of the club alright.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)... and she was the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Justice from 2006 to 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Fifth_Circuit
A 1990 report from The New York Times cited her as George H.W. Bush's second choice for the Supreme Court vacancy filled by Justice David Souter.[2] The Chicago Sun-Times and several other newspapers reported on July 1, 2005, that she had also been considered for nomination to the Supreme Court during the presidency of George W. Bush.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Jones
bluedigger
(17,088 posts)If she really said that, just...
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)FuzzyRabbit
(1,970 posts)is that there are tens of thousands of judges, prosecutors, and police who think the exact same thing. She merely said in public what most of them will not say in public.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Also, at the moment the Republicans have the majority on the 5th Circuit.
Currently: 10 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 2 Vacancies.
If we fill the two vacancies and get to fill her seat too, then it will be: 9 republicans, 8 democrats
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)totodeinhere
(13,059 posts)I don't see that happening. I suspect that she will issue and "apology" and say something to the effect that she was misquoted. And that will be that.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)... that she'll be eligible to take senior status (semi-retirement) and vacate her seat with full retirement benefits.
Guess we will have to see what happens.
Fla Dem
(23,817 posts)Seems she has been a pretty nasty most of her career.
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/09/22/chief-judge-edith-jones-attacks-fellow-judge-in-oral-argument-and-screams-for-his-to-shut-up-or-leave-the-courtroom/
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Defense Attorneys across her district would be scanning there client convicted list searching for her name and determing the race of their client
in preparation for appeal.
But first, maybe someone should run the numbers on her racial groups like African-Americans and Hispanics are predisposed to crime, and are prone to commit acts of violence conviction rate compares to those of her peers, that have not stated that certain racial groups like African-Americans and Hispanics are predisposed to crime, and are prone to commit acts of violence.
Should be telling
Sgent
(5,857 posts)but she is an appellate judge for the Federal 5th Circuit -- this she hasn't heard many trials, but she does get to set federal law for TX, MS, and AL.
Judi Lynn
(160,656 posts)or she wouldn't risk her future smearing other people.
I would hope it's that she's simply a poorly raised, ignorant child of bigoted clowns rather than she reflects a mainstream sentiment in her environment. This is unbearable, vicious backwardness where the nation can least afford it.
[center][/center]
During Court Hearing, Conservative Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Shouts Down Progressive Colleague, Telling Him To Shut Up
By Ian Millhiser on Sep 23, 2011 at 1:10 pm
The Fifth Circuit is probably the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. It recently sanctioned a cheerleader and alleged rape victim because she sued the school district that required her to cheer for her alleged rapist. Its judges frequently attend junkets for judges hosted by an oil-industry funded group. And the court has developed such a reputation as a safe haven for the oil industry that the House GOP recently tried to shift many important oil drilling lawsuits into this court.
Few people capture the essence of the Fifth Circuit better than its chief judge, Edith Jones. During a recent court hearing considering a criminal defendants drug conviction, Jones became incensed because she believed one of her few left-of-center colleagues was asking too many questions, and she angrily cut him off:
CHIEF JUDGE JONES: Judge Dennis!
JUDGE DENNIS: Can I, can I, can I ask a question?
CHIEF JUDGE JONES: You have monopolized, uh, uh, seven minutes .
JUDGE DENNIS: Well, Im way behind on asking questions in this court. I have been quiet a lot of times, and I am involved in this case .
CHIEF JUDGE JONES slams her hand down on the table (loudly), stands halfway up out of her chair, and points toward the door.
CHIEF JUDGE JONES: Would you like to leave?
JUDGE DENNIS: Pardon? What did you say?
CHIEF JUDGE JONES: I want you to shut up long enough for me to suggest that perhaps .
JUDGE DENNIS: Dont tell me to shut up .
CHIEF JUDGE JONES: you should give some other judge a chance to ask a question
The fact that Jones cut off one of her progressive colleagues is a minor issue, but arises against a background of mean-spirited and ideological decisions. Jones once wrote a dissenting opinion claiming that a female worker who was repeatedly propositioned, was groped and grabbed, (had) pornography [] placed in her locker, and (had) other employees broadcast[] obscene comments about her over the companys public address system did not experience sexual harassment. At oral argument, she even suggested the woman would need to be raped to claim such harassment.
More:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/09/23/326699/jones-to-dennis-shut-up/
TexasTowelie
(112,568 posts)and I don't use this term lightly, Judge Jones is a "bitch".
I'm sorry for going there and my apologies to the female dogs that have offspring.