Posted on 04/03/2006 3:25:58 PM PDT by SmithL
Albany, N.Y. -- A municipal judge has accepted censure as punishment for mocking an assault victim by comparing him to a lying character on "Saturday Night Live."
The state Commission on Judicial Conduct said Monday that Syracuse City Court Judge Karen Uplinger "demeaned and mocked" assault victim Anthony Nushwat in October 2004.
"Humor has its place, sometimes even in court. But it isn't funny for a judge to mock or belittle an assault victim who is making a statement to the court," said commission administrator Robert Tembeckjian. "A judge is obliged to be patient, dignified and courteous at all times while acting in an official capacity."
The commission said the judge compared Nushwat to Pathological Liars Anonymous member Tommy Flanagan, an SNL character created by Jon Lovitz whose tag line after telling obvious lies was:
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The judge does stand-up on weekends. That was just practice. Yeah, that's the ticket!
She obviously does not have a "judicial temperament." What is she doing on the bench to begin with?
I doubt municipal judges hear felony cases.
Where do you draw that conclusion from? If it wasn't a jury hearing, how did the defendant foundf guilty?
It was during a "sentencing hearing" according to the story. That implies that it wasn't part of a trial by jury proceeding.
Plus, there's no mention of the comment being particularly bad because it would influence the jury.
And you can waive your right to trial by jury.
I've been a juror in trials where the jury decides guilt or innocence but is then excused. The judge then decides the sentence.
That probably is what happened here.
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