I would like to know the record of the Pittsburgh court before drawing conclusions. Review the outcomes for the same/similar cases (i.e., level of offense (degree of misdemeanor or felony, plea deals offered/made, race of offender) before calling anyone a racist or blaming the Pittsburgh court system on the current president (see comments below).

This is the first I've ever heard of something like this happening, doesn't mean it hasn't though.

He is obviously not fit to be a judge. Racism has no place in the judicial system. He should lose his job before making any other racist judgments.

The prosecutor states:

"Now that the court has essentially called me a racist, I think that's unfair. I don't make offers based on race. I make offers based on facts,"

After reading this article I think it’s pretty clear it is the judge that is the racist.

http://tpj.sagepub.com/content/78/1/74.abstract

"In the city of Pittsburgh, in 1994, of the approximately 53% of the 2,916 delinquency cases disposed by the juvenile court, about 70% involved African American Youth"

I don't have the figures for adults with this kind of crime. However, overrepresentation of minorities in jail is a real thing.

While the District Attorneys office can say they aren't racist. The figures may not bear that out.

Knee Jerk reactions about the black Judge being racist, in my opinion, don't speak to his experience of African Americans getting tougher sentences.

More likely, is racial bias that lives and breathes in the United States everyday.

Where is the liberal uproar, where is the ACLU, Al, Jesse, he should be charged with a hate crime, we demand a Federal investigation, and all the other things the left demands when they feel slighted.

Maybe the prez. will have a beer with the judge and the kid to smooth things out.

If he is not fired then it just goes to show that racism is tolerated in this country except when a minority is discriminated against. The left has demanded the firing of others for a lot less.

Where was the anger when minorities were getting longer jail sentences?

Now your angry, because its happening to a white guy.

Eric ever though that maybe the reason more minorities are being sent to jail is because more minorities are committing crimes. I know lets even things out and just go arrest a bunch of white folks and put them in jail so the numbers balance out.

This judge will have the NAACP, Jackson, Sharpton, and all that whining bunch rushing to his defense before this is over. In truth, the judge is nothing but a scumbag just like they call others daily.

Well is the judge right?

pgh - NEVER heard of this happening? How about voter intimidation last election in Philadelphia? Fed AG refuses to prosecute. All discrimination is bad.

Eric, your arguements are laughable. The simple facts are a higher percentage of crime is caused by blacks and hispanics than their percent of the population would account for. Charlotte is about 25% black but day in and day out the police crime blotters show black arrests are between 55-65% of the total.

This "judge" in a single sentence proved to absolution that he is unqualified to ever sit on a bench. He should be removed immediately.

If it was a white judge and the defendant was black, who used the phrase "black boy" or "@!$%#" (equally as offensive), the media, Al, Jesse, Obama et al would be all over this!! Whites are also victims of discrimination!!! It's just not politically correct to say so

I posted this below but I'll put it up here as well.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17890

" A comprehensive examination of 700,000 criminal cases by the San Jose Mercury News, Mauer noted, included that of 71,000 adults with no prior records. In this group, one-third of whites had their felony charges reduced to misdemeanors “while only one quarter of blacks and Hispanics received this disposition.”

There is racial bias in the justice system.

Mary - I'm not saying anything about the actual story - just saying I haven't heard of something in PITTSBURGH happening like this before. Someone commented wondering about Pittsburgh's record - I know a lot of crime here involves African Americans, (or that's all the news actually highlights) but what their sentencing is like compared to crimes of white people - I don't know. Never heard it called out before.

4Nik8tor,

Read my post above and explain the research.

I see the narrative is being hijacked once again related to a story. I believe the judge was very truthful in his observation about the harsher treatment and sentencing of people of African descent in this country.

Funny, how people of European descent are all up in arms calling this judge a bigot and demanding he be removed from the bench but where were all of you during these events?:

Amadou Diallo

Oscar Grant

Jena 6

The problem here is that there is an ugly legacy of racism embedded not only in the so-called "justice" system in this country but in its consciousness. I'm sure many posters on this forum will have the knee-jerk response of saying "don't keep bringing up the past because that isn't happening now" or "you weren't subject to that treatment so you're playing a victim" when I bring up slavery, colonialism and Jim Crow laws. However, our schools don't really teach students what actually was going on in this country and others around the world but you can take the initiative and find out.

Jim Crow Laws

I'm sure the current topic pales in comparison but you see that the judge's observation in rooted in fact and history.

Do all the people here who say, "where is your outrage when this or that happens to a black person" realize that they are discrediting their own argument? You can't have it both ways. What's wrong is wrong. I hope the people here defending this judge don't have the gall to complain over a perceived injustice to a minority, when you are saying here that it is ok.

I have to point out Eric, we can't rely on statistics when it comes to race. Ever think that maybe white percentages are higher because there are more white people?

Example - you have 40,000 blacks living in a state and 100,000 whites in that same state. A statistic shows that in the state of lets say...Vermont, 50% of the black popluation is on welfare, but only 30% of the white population is on welfare - that's more whites than blacks! And I think we always use these statistics and only look at the initial outcome instead of the elements and extensions of the facts themselves. So then we go on to make our racist remarks and think that we are all high and mighty and right when in fact - we are not.

To mytwocents

Although what you suggest should happen...it does not matter in a case where a judge explicitly call race in to question...it would beinteresting to see what his other case verdicts looks like...sure sounds racist to me.

PGH, statisticians are fairly smart and take demographics into account.

That being said, I knew someone would say the equivalent of, "those numbers are crap".

Let's not look at the facts that there is racial bias in the justice system and it benefits whites.

While I think that the judge might have been correct in his assessment, I think that either he should have supported his statement and subsequent refusal with applicable case law or he should have kept those thoughts to himself and thrown it out on the ridiculousness of the plea deal. For example, one of the well known racially discriminatory practices in sentencing was evident in federal sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine v powder coke in the 1990s. His statement was not without merit. But he should have either supported it or shutup about it. 3 months probation for assaulting a police officer? You've got to be kidding me. It is not unreasonable or unlawful for a judge to throw out a plea agreement...just b/c the prosecution and defendant have reached an agreement does not mean that the judge has to go along with it. But for a judge to make such a statement in open court is good enough reason for him to recuse himself.

yeah they and people that do "studies" are so smart - half the time their study proves incomplete and needing more research or information!

Eric,

While numbers don't lie, they also don't give the complete picture. The obvious factor you are purposely omitting or simply overlooking is socioeconomic status. Those 1 in 10 extra whites who get a 'better deal' most likely do so because they have the money to hire a great defense attorney. Less minorities are in a position to do so, and consequently are left with a less able public defender.

Obvious case in point, O.J. Simpson. A black man who is guilty as sin, but got off because he had the ability to pay his cadre of high priced scumbag attorneys to twist the truth so he could walk.

By and large, the system is color blind and works well.

Askari

Jena 6? bad example you should read up before you post, most of the 6 have had run ins with the law since then and there is always those photos of them rolling around in the da money.

ChiCity, your comments don't make much sense regarding this particular topic. The judge did not do anything wrong or racist. He just made an observation that a lot of people don't like to hear. You know there's a lot of truth/facts to support his position.

So, how many people have you heard of getting into a fight (physical assault) with a police officer and getting away with just probation?

Robbob, you are probably one of the few people with such a limited perspective on what actually precipitated the Jena 6 incident or the racist atmosphere that prevailed in that town up until that point.

Do your own reading!

Obvious case in point, O.J. Simpson. A black man who is guilty as sin, but got off because he had the ability to pay his cadre of high priced scumbag attorneys to twist the truth so he could walk.

By and large, the system is color blind and works well.

Joe-738652, your last statement is FALSE. The system is corrupt and so are many of its members. As far as colorblindness is concerned, the system does see it -- green, and that's by your own admission.

Racism aside, I think that's something we ALL should be working to reform.

Yes... there is racism in this country and there shouldn't be.

Yes... there is racism in our courts and there shouldn't be.

If this does see any viable national discussion it will be good for our country as it might get us another step down the path of equality in this country. As for the judge... he was both right and wrong.

tnymdy and all those who voted for his sweeping generalization, please back up your offensive remarks with some facts. I have reported your comment as inflammatory.

Blacks are the most racist people in the country.

Correction -- HUMANS are the most racist people in the country.

So let me get this straight. Two wrongs make a right???? Yes there are racist white judges, JUST AS THERE ARE racist black judges. If your reasoning allows you to think "well since I get discriminated against, Ill do the same in return", you are whats wrong with this world. Do unto others...

"By and large, the system is color blind and works well."

Joe, I could post studies from the Department of Corrections, etc.

Obviously, despite me doing that you'd choose to believe there is no racial bias in the justice system.

Simply put, your wrong.

Four years as a defense attorney tell me that the judge is absolutely correct in this situation. White judges and white prosecutors routinely go easier on white defendants. I suspect it is that they relate to them on some level because they are members of the same racial class.

I was all ready to get on the bandwagon and villify this guy until I read that he recused himself from the case.

Everyone probably has a few racist attitudes or opinions that they struggle with. The fact that this judge recused himself from the case after saying what he said shows that he was aware that he could not be objective in this case. Considering that no one is perfect, that was exactly the right thing to do under the circumstances. I applaud him for that and wish all judges would do the same.

This P.O.S. judge should be recusing himself from the bench, period. Why does he think he could get away this? His built-in bias can never be reversed. He should never preside over another case, be it for a black or white, as either way, every case he ever presides over will now go straight to an appeals court.

dan42day

You are whats right in this world. Nobody is perfect he recognized his error and accepted responsibility. All races want to point towards others instead of looking at themselves. Racism is alive and well among us all unfortunately and until we take a look in the mirror at our own actions and thoughts/words nothing will change.

Eric, you make me chuckle. Yes there are racists white judges, but you have yet to admit these comments should not have been made and are wrong at the core. You want problems to be corrected so man up and yes wrongs are done to people of color just as they are done to those that are white. Do unto others man, stop excusing a wrong because its done the other way, that logic is flawed at the core. Even you cannot argue with that.

Askari, I personally don't run with a crowd that would "get into a fight with a police officer". Speaking with several of my friends, who are attorneys, this is very common. With no priors, and the over crowding in jail, more often than not this would get pleaded out.

I think I am arguing from a perspective of reality. I think you argue from an emotional place. There is nothing uncommon about this.

As for the judge, he didn't simply make an observation. He rejected an agreed to plea deal based on the thought that this wouldn't suffice for a black defendant. The color of one's skin should never enter into a judge's mind when sentencing. That is why it is wrong and racist.

Eric, per #1.39,

I didn't say there is no bias in the system. This article specifically cites a black judge who demonstrated bias against a defendant based solely upon the man being white. I don't think that necessarily makes the judge a racist. But in this instance, it definitely makes him an unfit jurist. You could cite raw DOC #s and I wouldn't dispute them (seen 'em before). But again, what they don't show is the socioeconomic breakdown across races and ethnicities, and the effect of having more money enables those of higher status to get better results in the justice system. So I'm not wrong at all.

That said, how would you account for O.J. Simpson, a black man who brutally murdered two white people, getting acquitted, if the system is so prejudicial to blacks? An honest response will certainly be interesting. No response will just be sad.

It's funny how so many of you have still demanded the firing of a white person for saying something like this, but are will to let it go just because the judge recused himself. What a double standard, when others have said something deemed racist and apologized you still demanded their firing, why the sudden change in forgiveness standards.

Joe, I'm talking about incongruity in sentencing. That is what this article talks about. Given there are disparities in sentencing based on race, and whites get the benefit, this judge was well within his rights to not agree to the plea.

I guess people can get all bent out of shape because a black judge says, "white boy", and then state the judge is racist.

I'm glad you see that there is racial bias in the system. I don't see that a lot is being done to reduce those disparities.

http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_sentencing_review.pdf

RACIAL DISPARITY IN SENTENCING:
A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
JANUARY 2005

"Key findings:
· Latinos and blacks tend to be sentenced more harshly than whites for lower-level
crimes such as drug crimes and property crimes;
· However, Latinos and blacks convicted of high-level drug offenses also tend to be
more harshly sentenced than similarly situated whites."

It's funny how so many of you have still demanded the firing of a white person for saying something like this, but are will to let it go just because the judge recused himself.

Robbob, to whom are you referring? What double standard are you talking about? You speak of forgiveness but don't seem to be practicing it with your statement. Perhaps you should let it go...

Eric,

You have yet to respond. Do you think it is fair to do a "wrong" because someone else or you have been "wronged"? A simple yes or no will suffice. I agree that there are racists, which is sad but to continue the cycle just to "right" what has been done to a group of individuals does nothing but divide and promote hate. Would you agree? Again a simple yes or no will suffice. No response is the same as "no comment" which we all know what that really means...

Until we stop perpetuating this cycle problems will never get solved, we will continue to raise our children in a world that is too busy focusing on others instead of "self responsibility"

Holy Toledo,

Was it wrong to refer to the guilty party as "white boy"? Yes.

Was it wrong for the judge to deny the deal? No.

Research does show that whites get better deals. If this sentencing is not uniform the the judge is within his rights to deny the deal.

eric,

thank you. you would not have a problem then if a judge said "black boy" in that context then, correct? Unfortunately you are right, often times though I think it is due more to socioeconomic class of being able to "buy" an attorney with better ties, not race. Thats the real problem with our judicial system, the fact more money will buy you an attorney that plays golf with the judge...

and still that logic is so flawed, just because a group is wronged if you feed into that logic and want to do something strictly because of race, it makes you a racist. agreed? decisions based solely on the color of skin is racism, which is what the judge did by saying if he wasnt a white boy he wouldnt get this deal, instead of saying that this plea does not follow the same as others that have committed this crime. That is not racism

Eric,

I am familiar with the disparities in sentencing. But AGAIN, I refer you to the fact that nowhere in those statistics do the researchers (who may or may not have a preexisting bias which leads them to find the 'evidence' they want to support their 'conclussions') take into account the obvious factor of socioeconomics. Richer people of all ethnicities and races arrange better plea deals and receive more lenient sentences because they can/and do afford to pay for excellent criminal defense attorneys. Poorer people of all ethnicities and races don't because they can't. That isn't racism. It is fact. Socioeconomics has much more to do with your 'disparities' than race. Prime example: whites, on balance commit more 'non-violent' crimes; whereas blacks, on balance commit more 'violent' crimes. This isn't because of some mystically inherited racial 'criminal gene.' It is because most whites are more affluent than most blacks, and the natures of the kind of crimes they commit is a direct result of that (pretty hard for a kid in the ghetto to commit bank fraud, and a rich snob isn't likely to be on the corner committing armed robbery). Since you won't admit I'm right, and you won't even take a stab at the OJ thing-pun intended-might I suggest you go watch Trading Places.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't OJ acquitted due to the defense destroying the evidence presented by the prosecution due to horrid evidence procedures and inept crime scene processing? Granted OJ probably did it, but with all of the mistakes made by the prosecution, the police, and the forensics department it's not a stretch that OJ was acquitted.

In post-trial interviews with the jurors, a few said that they believed Simpson probably did commit the murders, but that the prosecution failed to prove their case. Three jurors published a book called Madam Foreman, in which they described how police errors, not race, led to their verdict, and that they considered prosecutor Darden to be a "token black" assigned to the case by the prosecutor's office.

According to the letter of the law, the way that it's practiced, justice prevailed. amirite? Karma will catch up to OJ. I wish I could read the article about this story. It's not showing up on MSNBC. Or it could just be my net connection over here.

Askari how about

Imus, Dr. Laura, Mike Bacsik, Darwin Holly, firefighters Spencer Allred and Randal Ricks and engineer/operator Ryan J. Smith, Steve Blair, David Edgmon, Roger Adams, a US government Attorney, plus a lot of other people who have been fired and vilified on here for a lot less.

As to the Jena 6 thing I was raised not for from there and I was the minority in my middle school, as to the racism there it runs both ways. I have a much better understanding of what went on there than you ever will, I didn't buy into the left's spin on what went on. What the national news ran was way different from what the local media reported, and all the facts of what really happened were reported not just the sanitized versions the national news ran.

Robbob, the problem is that I asked you who on THIS forum was practicing the double standard. In the case of Dr. Laura, her apologies were quite hollow. The reason Dr. Laura quit her radio show was that she wanted to exercise her freedom of speech rights to call Black people the "n" word as often as she would like and not have someone fining her for it.

As far as you being from Jena and having been a "minority" in your middle school, please elaborate on how you were oppressed by racism from Black adults as children don't actually wield any form of civic power.

"Now that the court has essentially called me a racist, I think that's unfair. I don't make offers based on race. I make offers based on facts," Catanzarite said, according to the Tribune-Review.

What facts exactly? There aren't many details given in the article.

Zen,

No, OJ was acquitted because his team did an excellent job of portraying the police as being sloppy-they weren't, THE DNA EVIDENCE WAS OVERWHELMING AGAINST SIMPSON-and planting the seeds of doubt about the charactor of Det. Furhman, thus 'validating' their 'conspiracy' against OJ theory. His case was a classic miscarriage of justice.

According to the justice system his case played out as it should have. Maybe you don't understand crime scene investigation and evidentiary procedures but that crime scene was handled like three year olds were conducting the investigation. There were too many people moving about the crime scene contaminating the evidence. Crime scene investigating procedures were not followed and their chain-of-custody for evidence was horrendous. OJ's case was defeated because of incompetence, ineptitude, and gross negligence on the part of law enforcement. They took what should have been a slam dunk case and crapped all over it.

Askari how about you for one. In your own word this judge is guilty of racism

Sebbydad, if you are in a law enforcement position, that means that you wield power over others. When "prejudice" is influencing your decisions in that position and you set out to intimidate, pepper spray and and subsequently falsely arrest those you are "prejudiced" against, THAT IS RACISM. Askari.

Does the Dr. Laura thread on August 13 2010 ring a bell.

Somebody is still listening to this bitter, old hag? Boy, people must really be bored and/or brain-dead. Askari

All I am saying is if we want equal rights then lets treat everyone equally, everyone should be just as outraged about this as they are when the tables are turned.

I am not from Jena but I did live near there, as to the discrimination part of your question we were not allow to participate in some activities at school, there were a lot of places that whites were not allowed to enter. It was during the 70's at the start of busing and even thought it was meant to diversify the school population we were keep separate during breaks, we were not allowed to mingle together, whites were keep in one part of the school while blacks were in another part of the school. It was a bad time for everyone, you also need to understand that even still today that for the most part the south still self segregates it self. It is when people from other parts of the country show up that things tend to get out of hand, and tensions get increased to a boiling point. I'm not saying that the charges against the Jena 6 weren't way overboard but look at these guys history before and after all the hoopla and you see a pattern of trouble that they have brought on themselves.

My family is truly representative of the whole American melting pot as I can say the just about every race under the sun has to put up with me at family gatherings. One of my best friends was the NAACP president in Lafayette La at one time, and he always said that the only why for minorities to get equality is to stop feeling sorry for themselves and take advantage of doing it themselves so no one could say they got a free ride. The best revenge for discrimination is to show them they are wrong by doing it better than those that discriminate.

Zen

I understand CSI just fine. Maybe you should comprehend better. I'll repeat it for you.

THE DNA EVIDENCE WAS OVERWHELMING AGAINST SIMPSON

End of case, end of story.

There was strong DNA evidence, but the fact that the police and lab tech's didn't follow their own procedures during the processing of the crime scene and the evidence collected is what led the jurors to find him not guilty. The prosecution and the police screwed up a guaranteed conviction.

Robbob, what do the quotes you fetched from my previous posts on other threads have to do with the subject at hand? Nothing because you are leaving out the context. I am implying that you are attempting to imply....hell, I don't know...LOL!

However, I do thank you for elaborating on your experiences and background. I am confrontational in my debate style but never from a place of malice. I am trying to gain understanding as well as impart some. I see the point you are trying to make but I am lost as to why you keep pressing it since the person in question, Judge Williams, did the right thing by recusing himself. Isn't that a moment of growth when you decide to NOT use your position of influence to perpetuate discrimination?

Zen,

You better check in with 'The Zen Master,' Phil Jackson. "There was strong DNA evidence." That's a gross understatement.

Again, The DNA evidence was OVERWHELMING against Simpson!!! It practically excluded everyone else on the planet. OJ got off because of the buffoonish prosecution and Judge Ito allowing 'The Dream Team' to make a mockery of the judicial system. But even in spite of all of that nonsense and shenanigans, it was clearly 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that he was guilty.

Nonetheless, it is a perfect illustration of my original point that money and social status are much bigger factors in pleas and sentences than race is.

I'm sorry, Joe, but had the police and techs done their jobs OJ would have been in jail no matter his dream team. The OJ case is a main sticking point of MPI school. They drill it into your head that the case will be won or lost based on your processing of the crime scene and then they tell you every mistake the police and techs made during the OJ case that opened the holes for the dream team to demolish the prosecution. Unfortunately mob rule and common sense are not part of the legal system once a case goes to trial. Common sense tells us that OJ was guilty, however, reasonable doubt in the eyes of the law was shown and that is why OJ got off. OJ is a shameful mark on black people everywhere because we have to put up with nonsense like "OJ was black and he beat the system, so not all black people suffer because of racism in the legal arena." However, OJ beat the system due to inept procedures and the giant failboat that was the law enforcement officials who were in charge of the case. Had the scene been done with some common sense every penny OJ had wouldn't have helped him.

Oh, when they're suppose to be in the priesthood of justice. What a sad scene.

joanne, funny how it is YOU as a white person that is busy doing the complaining on here. There aren't a whole bunch of Black folks on here insisting on what you claim. I have to question YOUR intent seeing as the BLACK judge in question recused himself and moved out of the way of the proceedings.

Seems to me a lot of people like yourself are just looking to spout off nonsense and start a fight about something that is a non-issue. The media just continues to bait people with provocative headlines and the citizens continue to fall for it instead of reading the ACTUAL story in its entirety so they won't make such quick judgments without all the data.

Askari- sorry for the delay on a response, I do respect your passion for debate.

As to the quote from your other thread I wanted to merely point out how our perception of an event is sometimes clouded by our own situation. Yes the fact that this judge recused himself should be enough, but I was pointing out that that has not been enough in the past when others have done similar things and "People" have required that they be fired for their offense.

I guess the only why to stop racism is to remove race from any decision, secondly the thing that I find absolutely @!$%# funny is the whole race debate in the first place, there is only one race, the human race. Most people today are a mixture of different nationalities whether they want to admit it or not, I have serous doubt that many people could claim pure blood status in this day and age. Maybe my neighbors beagle could.

As to the jail numbers I have a unique idea, why don't people stop committing crimes then there would be no way for any differences in sentencing. I know lets all stop selling drugs and the drug problem would go away, stop murdering each other and then we could stop executions, so on and so forth you get the idea.

OJ people really? you have nothing better to talk about than OJ? wow

Robbob, thank you for contributing to building the bridge of understanding. As I read your last post, my soul is warmed knowing that even though we may have differed in our opinion about the current topic, we are kindred against what is really a superficially manufactured mindset -- racism.

I saw the REAL you shine through and that's why I love this vehicle of communication.

Plus it's a lot of fun to bang heads with those that come unarmed. And every now and then you get to go up against someone who really gets it.

Zen,

You keep using the same 'excuses' that OJs lawyers did. And that's all they are, excuses. The verdict is supposed to be based on the evidence. The threshold is supposed to be 'reasonable' doubt. It is obvious from the extremely short deliberation that the jury did not even scratch the surface on reviewing the evidence. And although if they had, there could have been doubt-based upon the 'collection' argument; there could not have been REASONABLE doubt based upon the DNA evidence at the scene, in the Bronco, and back at Simpson's house. To believe otherwise is to assume the police would have had prior intent (and plenty of OJ's blood) to frame Simpson as soon as they arrived at the initial crime seen. That is a preposterous proposition. Money, an assinine Judge, and a jury of fools allowed that upper class black man to skate.

Like I said, Joe, I never said OJ wasn't guilty. He should have been found guilty. But to say that police enforcement and prosecution incompetency didn't play a role in his being allowed to skate is irresponsible at best and naive at worst. The US Army MPI School uses the OJ case as a study in how to thoroughly screw up an investigation and deny rightful justice to the victims and their families. Everytime I process a crime scene I keep that in the back of my mind.

You can BET that Sharpton and Jackson would have been screaming their collective heads off. Want to bet they don't say a thing on this one?

Want to bet they don't say a thing on this one?

Want to bet either one of those two fine, upstanding men could take a 100# square block of concrete and make it spin like a top??

I seriously doubt a "white judge" would have said anything close to this. But had your contrived scenario in fact occurred, then yes, there would be an "immediate clamor" to remove him!

Any more questions?

I agree, our media would be blaring what a travesty this was, there would be protests in the streets, the judge would be banned from entering a courthouse for the rest of his life. Sharpton and Jackson would be screaming bloody murder.

Jim - Oregon

If that had been a white judge and black defendant and a similar phrase used, there would be an immediate clamor to remove the judge.

For years White judges have been sending black boys to jail for the same thing, its called assault of a police officer, resisting arrest. assaulting a police officer is a felony, that called jail time i don't care what color you are.

For years White judges have been sending black boys to jail for the same thing, its called assault of a police officer, resisting arrest. assaulting a police officer is a felony, that called jail time i don't care what color you are.

Oh, so it's payback. Ok, I see. Boy we have come a long way with racial equality in this country, LMAO! I guess we should revisit what MLK really meant on the Washington Mall 40 years ago. Maybe it wasn't all about character after all!

It's clear that this would have never happened if it was a white judge and a black defendant, because no prosecutor would be looking for a lenient plea deal for a black defendant.

Data Show Racial Disparity in Crack Sentencing

Racial, Ethnic and Gender Disparities in Sentencing: Evidence

And on and on and fricking on. The data is there and it's voluminous. If you have a white defendant, never got in trouble before, clean record, and a black defendant, never got in trouble before, clean record, and they go up for identical charges, the black defendant, a marked majority of the time, will get a more serious sentence, and the white defendant will be able to get a cushy little plea deal, like this case.

kpokeefe, if blacks have been getting longer sentences, how are we trying to fix this then?

Sometimes people only understand that there is a problem when it affects them or their race.

kpokeefe, if blacks have been getting longer sentences, how are we trying to fix this then?

Actually, a study was done about 5 years ago concerning blacks getting longer sentences than whites, Asians and Hispanics. It reputed a study done previously which agreed with your assertion. What was discovered is that MOST often a black who was sentenced to a longer sentence for the same crime that a white, Asian, or Hispanic committed was a repeat offender. In other words if I rob a bank with a gun the second time then I should expect a longer sentence than a person robbing a bank for the first time. White, black, brown, green or blue shouldn't play into the equation. Statistics superficially look very different when you start peeling the layers of the onion back!!! The mass media, as they admit, report to people on a 7th grade level. If you consume it at that level then you are reduced to the mentality and reasoning capabilties of that level!

lets not forget obama would raise against the white judge and side with the black defendant without reviewing the facts first!

Read about the case of Brian Nichols and his shooting and killing a Judge on the bench, the court reporter, deputy as well as a federal agent. The blackman got life imprisonment for killing 4 law enforcement representatives which any one carried the death penalty in Georgia. A few months back we executed a white man for killing one deputy!

kpokeefe,

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17890

" A comprehensive examination of 700,000 criminal cases by the San Jose Mercury News, Mauer noted, included that of 71,000 adults with no prior records. In this group, one-third of whites had their felony charges reduced to misdemeanors “while only one quarter of blacks and Hispanics received this disposition.”

Hmmm, seems like the research is pretty clear. The judge was speaking from experience.

There was a clamor to remove the judge. So much so he recused himself. A white judge replaced him and granted the plea. Read the article before making comments.

Those comments are grounds for removal from the bench. You're correct...had the color of the individuals be reversed the NAACP would have been all over the Judge.

sorry but the white boy had no previous record ... chances are any bro would have a long rap sheet ... so yes ... the black "boy" would have not gotten a deal like this.

San Jose Mercury News

This is one of those 7th grade sources I spoke about. They are also one of the most liberal news syndicates in the country. In other-words they are bias! Get your sources from an unbiased source. Remember they could have cherry picked 700000 cases. Also, I would think that would be 700,000 cases in California if they actually really looked into 700,000 cases. California ain't the US. We all know the problems that state has had for decades disseminating social and economic reality from fiction. California has never been representative of the entire US.

Notice, I gave a specific case!

So let me get this straight. Two wrongs make a right???? Yes there are racist white judges, JUST AS THERE ARE racist black judges. If your reasoning allows you to think "well since I get discriminated against, Ill do the same in return", you are whats wrong with this world. Do unto others...

Kpokeefe,

This was research done by looking through that newspaper and finding information on court proceedings. You obviously don't know how research works.

It is not a "news report".

You really should read the links I post.

The article says that the plea deal was reached in large part because of the attitude and behavior of the defendent. If a black man had committed the crime, more likely than not he would not be cooperative and would be playing the race card, thus digging himself deeper. This defendent was obviously contrite and therefore received a lesser recommendation WITH THE CONSENT OF THE OFFICER INVOLVED. I will not argue that a larger percentage of black people seem to get harsher sentences. But, a large part of it has to do with how they respond during and after arrest.

Eric,

Obviously, you don't know how skewing works. Were those 700,000 cases from the 50s, 60s, 70, 80s, 90s or 00s. Were the cases cherry picked from all decades. When were those cases tried?

When were the cases against whites tried?

If they were from the 60s, 70s or even early early 80s, then I might agree that judges didn't apply the law equally along racial lines. However, in the past 15 to 20 years, judges have become more consistent along racial lines. The ACLU has been a big player in making certain that judgements which are racially charged are overturned or thrown out based on the unconstitutionality of the sentence.

One of the big problems with crime in California is the "Gang Laws". If you rob someone as a member of a gang then you get a much harsher sentence than if you individually rob someone. Statistically, whites are less likely to be members of gangs. If that has caused the number of blacks or Latinos to get harsher sentences for crimes then it isn't the judges fault because at sentencing his or her hands are tied. Blame the people who passed the laws and the voters who voted for them.

kpokeefe

For years White judges have been sending black boys to jail for the same thing, its called assault of a police officer, resisting arrest. assaulting a police officer is a felony, that called jail time i don't care what color you are.

Oh, so it's payback. Ok, I see. Boy we have come a long way with racial equality in this country, LMAO! I guess we should revisit what MLK really meant on the Washington Mall 40 years ago. Maybe it wasn't all about character after all!

i will go out and do the same thing as this White Kid did, i don't have a record and have never been in trouble with the law, and i bet you i will get jail time, I'm black. for years i have seen white judges put black away for a lot less, but i guess now we have a black president whites feel this can be victims of racism. whites don't know what racism is. black have seen iot for 400 years, Now white are the new kids on the black of racism, well you have alot to learn.

if whites only knew what real racism was. i bet when you walk down the street white women don't hold there purses think you will steal it, i bet when a white walks in a store, securty does not follow them around, and best of all, i bet when your driving your new car, the police don't stop you to make sure its YOUR CAR or don't stop you for driving in a rich white Hood, !!! that racism son. untill that happens to you, go Jump in a river, on this racism crap you whites feel you need to play all the time.

Everyday in america white and black judges make deals, some are worng and some are justified. assault on a police officer, in chicago, assault on a police officer will get you beat the hell out of and a white, black, yellow, green or judge will give you time. black or white person.

Too many time in our past white judges have given whites a break that they refuse to give blacks, son i'm 50 years old and have seen everything.

Notice, I gave a specific case!

A study which reviews 700,000 cases is far less biased than the strawman comparison of two cases you cherry picked. A comprehensive study allows you to discern trends, unlike the side by side comparison you propose. If you're going to bitch about statistics you should know something about how they work.

i will go out and do the same thing as this White Kid did, i don't have a record and have never been in trouble with the law, and i bet you i will get jail time, I'm black. for years i have seen white judges put black away for a lot less, but i guess now we have a black president whites feel this can be vistims of racism.

if whites only knew what real racism was. i bet when you walk down the street white women don't hold there purses think you will steal it, i bet when a white walkes in a store, securty does not follow them around, and best of all, i bet when your driving your new car, the police don't stop you to make sure its YOUR CAR or don't stop you for driving in a rich white Hood, !!! that racism son. untill that happens to you, go Jump in a river, on this racism crap you whites feel you need to play all the time.

Buddy, I live in Atlanta! Everyother person is black! Our Mayor is black. Police chief is black. 75% of the cops are black. The enitre city council except one drunk white guy is black. In my son's class about 50% of the kids are from interracial relationships. If you CHOOSE to live around racists then that is your problem. I'll tell you this tough, blacks are every bit as racist as whites are! So, if you are black and living around "cracker" haters then you should get out of dodge because whites, just as blacks, will give it just as much as they get it and you my friend will be caught in the middle! Got it!

A study which reviews 700,000 cases is far less biased than the strawman comparison of two cases you cherry picked. A comprehensive study allows you to discern trends, unlike the side by side comparison you propose. If you're going to bitch about statistics you should know something about how they work.

The 700,000 cases are cherry picked! Since the posting I did some quick research! These cases are about people being disgruntled over "Gang Laws". When you commit a crime as a gang member in California you get a much harsher sentence which the judge has to enforce as the lawmakers have mandated! Statistically, whites are less likely to be in gangs. You can't blame that on whites. Blacks and Latinos need to get out of gangs, period! California is the most liberal state in the union. Therefore, I gotta believe that liberals were big time behind Gang laws being passed! When is the last time the Republicans or coservatives controlled the state house and senate in California?

chris,

there is no such thing as reverse racism, its all racism...plain and simple

kpokeefe

I'll tell you this tough, blacks are every bit as racist as whites are! So, if you are black and living around "cracker" haters then you should get out of dodge because whites, just as blacks, will give it just as much as they get it and you my friend will be caught in the middle! Got it!

You live in atlanta, well my family use to live there, because of the 1912 race riots my great great grand father had to leave, because some white woman said a black raped her and they were lynching any body that they could catch, my great great grand father killed 2 klan members who tried to lynch him, thank god he was a mason and they got him and his family out or i would not be here today.

I never said black were not racist, hell me grandfather hated whites, southern white he had a real hate for. my grandmother hated polish people, because during the depression they would take wages so low in the garment district that they would get rid of black and whites because it was cheaper to have polish people.

i never said blacks were not racist, i said that untill whites have to deal with the things in my post, you will never know what real racsim is.

Kpokeefe, Go to my link about the 700,000 cases. No where does it mention gangs or gang laws. So whatever "quick research" you did. It doesn't have anything to do with the link I posted.

For those interested - http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17890

Fire the bigot and disbar him for life. While I agree that race plays a hand in how people are prosecuted, two wrongs do not make a right.

The defendant should have received a few hours of community service as well...but that's how racism rolls in the courts.

I'm sure it'll be handled with the same care as the voter intimidation case the justice department made go away.

I just read that we have a cocaine-addict judge in Georgia and now this???!!! Let's hope none of us ever have to go through our "justice" system.

"While I agree that race plays a hand in how people are prosecuted, two wrongs do not make a right."

How do we then deal with the first wrong?

It sounds like, "if it's a white guy that gets a shorter sentence that's fine" and "if a black guy gets a longer sentence that's fine".

He is a district Judge, what can be done is him not getting re-elected next time he's up for re-election. the DOJ cannot unseat judges. This is a state matte not federal, and if it was a federal judge only the senate has the power to remove a judge.

There is no reason to unseat someone telling the truth.

Eric, pointing to one study doesn't make it gospel. I bet you can find other studies that support the opposite. I would guess that the difference in the 8% (25% vs 33%) is more an issue of representation. This opens up a whole new ball of wax, distribution of wealth, class crisis, etc. One thing is clear, you can't just point to one study and use it to defend all the criticism here.

chicity, I can find dozens of studies that all say the same thing.

You should really do the research, it's quite mind opening. Still, when I do the google and go article by article I find the same thing.

http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-1840-black-men-still-overrepresented-in-prison.html

"It’s even true for Colorado, a state with a population close to 90 percent non-Hispanic white.

As a result, a disproportionate number of African-Americans, particularly men, wind up spending more time in prison — and are more likely to wind up on death row — than their white and Latino counterparts charged with similar offenses.

This is based on evidence provided by data from U.S. departments of corrections, the U.S. Department of Justice, and public-policy research organizations such as the Justice Policy Institute, and it was reiterated on Feb. 19 by the speakers at a conference in Boulder spearheaded by a law student troubled by the lack of attention given to this subject in general.

He did more than just "tell the truth", as you put it Eric. The judge REJECTED the plea deal because he believed that dude was getting an easier sentence because he was white, AND he stated that verbally! Ummmm...HELLO! that's racism. Why didn't the judge just keep his big mouth shut and reject the plea? Oh no, he has to spout off his rant and reveal he's doing this because of race. That's ILLEGAL, even if you are a black. Geez...

No Json, that is not racism.

In the judges experience, race plays a part in sentencing. The lawyers do get to ask the judge for this thinking in regards to the ruling.

Why are people so sensitive to racism when it happens to a white person, but insensitive when it happens to a black person?

Eric, I think the opposite is true. People are sensitive both ways, but racism is only ever acknowledged when it is a white persecuting a minority.

Judges don't negotiate plea deals, those are negotiated between the defense and prosecution and then brought before thw judge.

"The Man" in this case would be the prosecutors who were willing to give a "white boy" a slap on the wrist where a "black boy" would have ended up serving time.

well put, PlanckZero. I love the people who are crying racism but had no problem with the white woman who threw acid in her own face and blamed it on a black woman. Or the white crackhead who was just executed in Ohio who wanted to frame the black crackhead with the murder that he committed for his girlfriends ATM card. Where were their cries against racism then? People seem incapable to admit that sometimes there is a difference between white justice and black justice in this country. Elect a black president and ta da! All racism is gone. When every last one of you know that if a black kid was found guilty of fighting a cop and only got 3 months probation, you would be crowing about how Obama's justice system was biased in favor of blacks.

Nicely put planck and cappy !

This racism comes from a Judge, not some person on the street, get your stuff together Cappy, you sound racist too.

I have not heard one person comment and defend the "white" woman who threw acid on her own face and then blamed it on a black woman. It was a gross perversion to do that to herself and to blame another person - of any color. Unfortunately, when describing an assailant, one of the most apparent descriptions of another human being is the color of their skin. It is an identifier. This woman is apparently not quite right in the head and no real "black" person was blamed for the crime. She really only hurt herself and, in my opinion, neets mental health care.

The case at hand involves a clearly biased judge. We all know that bias and bigotry runs rampant all over the world. However, a Judge is held to a higher standard and this kind of judge should be allowed to sit on the bench. We fight bigotry by putting people on the bench who do not tolerate it. Not ones that propogate it.

A judge would not have acted out in frustration like this unless he had seen a lot of cases where there was a difference in treatment. This 3 months was the straw that broke the camel's back and may have involved influences the reporter did not explore or dig into. Everybody is looking at the racial issues involved and the three months and not realizing there's a lot of other factors that could have caused the judge to go off.

Cassey, the judge was merely stating a fact that blacks get fewer deals than whites. See post 9.7

The white woman who put acid on her face is being prosecuted. Idiot. So let's see, any time a black person conspires to blame a white person for a crime it's ok? I know, it never happens. The issue here is so simple that even a liberal should be able to understand it. The attorneys on both sides agreed to a plea. The judge rejected the plea based on RACE ALONE. That is a civil rights violation plain and simple. How about we learn that each person's crime should stand on its own. The courts are not suppose to be a place to "send messages" about injustice. Taking out your racial angst against a person facing the court is evil, prejudicial, and wrong.

How many blacks appear before a judge at the age of 24 with no offenses on their record?

I was told many many years ago,

"If you want Justice, go to a whorehouse

If you want to get F*cked, go to a courthouse"

That's the point. Teenage whites that commit crimes aren't charged like blacks. They get the" boys will be boys" attitude and sent home to their mothers. Police don't go into middle-class white neighborhoods looking for kids who are doing drugs to arrest them. When whites are more likely to experiment with drugs than blacks. Believe it or not! Don't forget the teenage black high school kid that had never been in trouble, stole an ice-cream bar and was given jail time by a white judge. The white judge said he "assumed" the kid already had an arrest record. That's because the police department does such a good job of getting black kids young and often for things they would not arrest a white kid for. If you're white it's called "joy-riding" if you're black you're charged with grand theft auto.' And I'm not talking about a video game!

Its nice to see how defensive all the minorities are about how "quick" everyone is in labeling the judge a racist: "He was just stating the truth...", "do more research...", "where was everyone when white X did this to black X...", etc. Yah, now you know what it's like to be branded a racist and have every thing blown out of proportion. Perhaps both sides can see what the other feels now: Whites feel a "suspicious" comment by a black judge and blacks feel what its like being called racist.

there is enough of this BS to go around for both sides. give it a rest. Bost sides are equally screwed up in America.

Loki - This country was built by Americans, not slaves. Very few people owned slaves, the majority of slaves were used to pick cotton, thanks to the cotton gin. Only a person of color angry over the past would spout the garbage you posted. Get a life, and quit blaming whitie...

So Lokio are you saying that it was only built on the sweat of slaves, cause I'm pretty sure that's racist in and of itself. I would say the country was built by the sweat of hard working individual trying to better themselves and their country, and now those who are in power, be them white, black, purple, or green are destroying it because 99% of them haven't put in a hard days work in their entire life so they don't and can't appreciate what the generations before them toiled so hard and long to achieve.

I with you Loki!

I agree Mooranon's comments are repugnent but your categorization of him/her as "tea party or republican" is equally ignorant.

Wow can you say your racist!!!!

This judge recused himself, so he held himself accountable.

Facts are facts, in general minorities get longer jail sentences.

Loki - you are just as bigoted because you are labeling all republicans and tea partiers as racist and that couldn't be further from the truth. This is a pat answer from liberals when you don't have anything better to say. However, on the other comment, I agree that poster is a terrible bigot - and, guess what, I'm a republican.

Loki, whites did plenty of work in building this country. Even in the old South where slavery was legal it was whites -- mostly Irish immigrants -- who did the hardest and most dangerous work such as draining and clearing swamps. That was because a slave was valuable and the loss of one was to be avoided. The death of an Irish immigrant cost nothing.

Loki, you need to do more research into your history. Slaves were liberated by a REPUBLICAN president. A REPUBLICAN Congress initiated de-segregation in schools which were opposed by DEMOCRAT governors requiring the National Guard to become involved to force the issue. With the exception of Obama himself, the REPUBLICAN party was the first to elect black people to every level of government. Keep believing what the liberals and the DEMOCRATS tell you. They want to keep you on welfare and uneducated because, that way they can fill you with crap, get your vote, and keep you controllable.

Pookymaker

Son what your saying has nothing to do with the artical. blacks were freed by lincoln a republican. eisenhower sent troops to little rock Arkanasa to intergrate the highschool. so what, lincoln though salvery was wrong, Eisenhower was follow the High courts ruling, as president that was his job. southern democrats were the klan, everybody knows that, the aritcal was about a black judge who is probeily tired is see white boys get away with the same crimes blacks were being sent to jail for. the black judge rejected that plea because assulting a police officer is a felony, and when you commit a felony you get jail time. at least the laws black must follow.

LOL!!!!!!!

LOL !!

Good one Phil.

We are still in the "racial" period. We aren't even close to "post racial".

Apparently not very quick on the uptake...

Ain't never gonna happen...

That would be nice. and maybe folks like "mooranon" could just promise to stop speaking unless they find something intelligent to say...

Um, pretty sure that was sarcasm in that first comment.

It's called A.A., Loki. And I don't mean an organization of reformed drunks!

On second thought, Loki, he probably was drunk.

Drunk or sober, that judge has a loose mouth and a low-class way of putting things. Brings the bench in disrepute.

Yourself?

lol. good one...

EliMae,I'm shocked. Don't you know any blind Eskimo,Tibetan midget lesbians? What a racist.

EliMae, it usually comes down to prior offenses when taking a plea. No priors, no damage done, no one hurt... This plea is typical given the facts.

What difference does it make how many times they've done it? Isn't once enough? I can see making the punishment harsher for repeat offenders, but that doesn't mean making the minimum punishment less for first-time offenders. Commit the crime, get the minimum punishment. Commit it again, something harsher.

And no, I don't know any Eskimo, Tibetan midget lesbians. I knew a midget lesbian once, though... jk. She was just short.

What difference does it make how many times they've done it? Isn't once enough?

You're right, it shouldn't. The reality of the situation is that a plea benefits both parties, the accused and the court. It saves everyone time and money (and capacity that our system doesn't have).

The basis for the plea is usually low likelihood of recidivism, which is why first time offenders in victimless crimes often get them. The worst possible thing for a judge is an individual who gets a plea today and then moves on to violent personal crime.

Pull your head out of the hole you seem to have it stuck in....blacks usually have a rap sheet as long as their arm and should be dealt with more harshly. This white boy had a clean record, never been in trouble before.....probation is what he should have received whether he was black or white. Look at the prison stats.....the percentage of blacks far outnumber whites, and the mexicans are right behind the blacks.

EliMae, it does make a difference. Not just for whites, but minorities as well. It's about being consistent.

Consistency is what I'm talking about. The same punishment for the same crime. Something harsher for repeat offenders. I suppose it would help to have some of these cases cleared out quickly. I hadn't considered that. And I'm sure there are a lot of good kids who just thought they could get away with something trivial, and that little brush with the law scared them enough. it's still a frightening thought, though, where that may not be the case.

It'd be so much better if it were like the cartoons, where the villains always has some identifying mark, and then you'd know who you can go easy on and who needs to be locked up for good. I recognize that's a childish thing to say, but I'm just so tired of reading these heartbreaking stories about toddlers murdered and little girls sold for sex.

If a white Judge said the same thing about a black guy in the same situation...would you be defending it? And when you say he probably shouldn't have said it, because it was inappropriate, does that mean he can still act on his bias in secret?

Loki, you are still regurgitating opinion. You can't expect anyone here to believe that you have researched the sentencings in this county, along with the prior criminal history of each defendent. You are speaking in generalities while trying to make a case specific point.

Too bad this isn't the only example of the judge's rascist tendencies. In a recent murder trial he presided over for a black defendent, when the defense tried to have the guilty verdict set aside on the grounds that it was an all white jury, Williams stated that the jurors "...couldn't possibly understand..." what it was like for the defendent growing up. Although he DID refuse the motion to set aside the verdict, he obviously has some racial issues to deal with if he thinks only blacks understand blacks. I guess his thought process means he has to recuse himself from all cases involving white defendents, white attorneys, and white jurists since he can't possibly understand them either. =)

Wow, convenient.

Then I'm sure you can tell me how many of these minorities that received longer sentences were represented by the public defender vs hiring their own attorney? This now brings in socioeconomic issues...

Loki, waiting for a response? You were very quick to flood this page with your ideas. When challenged, you disappear?

Doesn't matter, that was a total lack of professionalism and negates the responsibility of the judicial system.

The fact is that the defendant was aggressive towards police and therefore the charges against the defendant reflect his actions. That was all that needed to be said.

It's true. And for all you people that say other wise, you must be white! And never been in these situations.

Some gangsters burnt a car in my apartment complex in 1998, I was getting home from work and the cops saw me pulling into my parking lot, they pulled me out of my car and twisted my arm, turned me around and handcuffed me. My neighbor was watching and called my family to run out there and save me. I was let go in about 15 min after the whole apt complex came out to my defense. Sorry for the long comment. Just saying most things are based on the way you look (Black, Hispanic).

How come there weren't any riots over the ruling? Oh that's right.

THIS particular judge should not be judging ANYONE because he showed his true face-A RACIST.

If this were a white judge and a "Black boy" there would be no news.

A white judge rejecting a plea deal for a "black boy" and giving them jail time would just be business as usual.

This is bull@!$%#. That judge is a racist plain and simple. There are MANY black racists, they have an irrational hate for whitey, no matter how nice white people might be to them, they are just haters. And that is just as bad as the nazi skinhead wanting to lynch everyghetto boy he sees. This judge just wants to see this white boy hurting. It will give him some kind of good feeling to see it I dont know. But he should not be given the power to make decisions about someone's freedom with that kind of racial hate.

You mean that no White Judge ever gave a black person a plea deal? First off does any know the complete details of the problem? Every case is different. Don't assume he got off because he was white.

The judge was not racist. He was stating fact. Whites consistently receive advantages that others don't Justice may have a blindfold on but she is a white bitch.

The judge made a racist comment. Any white judge using the word Boy toward a black would be on the hot seat too.

Any "white judge" should be in the hot seat, period! They should be scrutinized more because throughout time they have shone themselves to support a tendentiousness in their adjudication based upon race. A Black judge calling anyone 'boy' is innocuous in comparison to the thousands of white judges who have scapegoated and filled the prison system with Black and Brown boys. The judge was righting a pervasive wrong. Sometimes when someone is real sick you have to use strong, nasty medicine. The American judicial system is on its deathbed.

Any white judge should be in the hotseat? You have shown your true colors, and lost all credibility.

ALL Judges are supposed to be in the hot seat. Black, White, Yellow, Brown, or Green for that matter. When a Judge shows bias he or she should be removed from the Bench.

It's interesting that ChiCity made a comment about lossing credibility as though I give a sh!t about what they think. But Was it in Chi City that Ofc. Burge (white) and his cronies/henchmen tortured and beat droves of Black and Brown suspects into confessions (these demons made the CIA and Gitmo proprietors look like choir boys). And weren't there countless judges (predominately white) that presided over these trials and put innocent men in prison and on death row(I believe your own mayor(Daley = white) and governor ( Quinn = white) had a hand as district attorneys in some of these cases)? Now we later see through the work of the Innocence Project (I acknowledge some are white) and through others that saw beyond skin color or economic status that many were innocent.

So yes Oregon Al, anyone who sits in a judges seat should be unbiased and scrutinized. But there is a responsibility on the shoulders of judges to take extreme stands if necessary to right wrongs.

The "white" boy in question assaulted an officer and should get the same penalty that countless "Black" boys and men have suffered, end of story, period. The judge was absolutely correct in using his bench to point out a bullsh!t double standard of justice that has existed since the beginning of this country.

I Agree

Matt-2470975 (Post #23.2) knows of what he comments in that there are as many Blacks who are racist as there are Whites.

While in graduate school, in an early but still pre-PC time - I read a study (now disappeared) done on this "racist" subject where a cross-section of Blacks were asked to rate on a 1-10 scale how they thought Whites would perceive Blacks on a variety of topics. (They also rated Whites on the same topics).

The results showed Blacks rated Whites poorly on the topics, and then rated Whites as perceiving they would rate Blacks EVEN WORSE on the 1-10 scale. The study conclusion was that Blacks were indeed racist and thought Whites would rate Blacks even worse than the Black respondents rated Whites. It was clear that Blacks were as racist (even moreso) than Whites.

In his judicial capacity, what this Black Judge offered as his "observation" re. the white 'boy' before recusing himself clearly reconfirms the study conclusion: Blacks ARE racists.

Wow. You recall a study which showed that African Americans believed that white Americans were inclined to have a a poor opinion of them. (What a reach) And you conclude, based on this one African American judge's statement that all "Blacks are racist." I wonder where African Americans could possibly have gotten the idea that white people tend to judge them adversely. Perhaps because they encounter people like you all the time who judge them by nothing more than the color of their skin; who attribute to all African Americans the acts or attitudes of some of them. Every single person you encounter in your life should be judged solely on what that person says or does. I realize it is much easier to simply assume that all of a particular race are a certain way; easier, but incredibly intellectually lazy and immoral.

Gatoralum: The facts are the facts aside from PC rhetoric. Why is it so difficult to admit that Blacks ARE racist??

Accepted or disputed, the study [recalled and now "disappeared"] demonstrated and concluded that Blacks not only rated Whites low (in scale), but also believed Whites would have a low [scaled] opinion of Blacks. Not only did this suggest a racial self-esteem problem but also saw a racist component - probably comparable to POTUS's "dog" self reference coupled with his bumbling comments following the 2009 Cambridge Black professor Henry Gates/Sgt. Crowley incident.

Sorry, but if (factually) it looks like a duck, acts like a duck, and quacks like a duck that duck is a duck. It is not a dove or goose.

Wake up America!The facts are facts. Whites do get more breaks than blacks when it involves the same crime.How many whites went to jail for lynching ? Ihave watched white police officers break car windows while they were drunk on duty and no charges were filed.I have seen white males and females who use drugs in the area I reside in.The police bypass the whites who use and sell drugs and arrest the blacks who do the same thing.I have witnessed police being cursed out by whites and get told to go home.The black individuals get their asses kicked and go to jail for resisting arrest for just looking at the police.