Posted on 03/29/2008 12:54:02 PM PDT by kingattax
ATLANTA -- Judge Marvin Arrington insists he's not a racist; despite ordering white lawyers out of his courtroom on Thursday.
The Fulton County Superior Court judge said he was just fed up seeing a parade of young black defendants in his courtroom.
"I came out and saw the defendants, about 99.9 percent Afro-Americans, and some point time I excused some of the lawyers, most of them white, and said to the young people in here 'What in the world are you doing with your lives,'" he told WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter JaQuitta Williams.
Arrington said he thought his message might have more power if it was delivered to a blacks-only audience.
"I didn't think about racism or reverse racism, I practiced law for 30 years and 75 percent of my partners were white," he explained.
The judge said the majority of people who appear before him accused of crimes such as murder, rape and robbery are black and he wanted to do something about it, one on one.
"I didn't want them to think I was talking down to them; trying to embarrass them or insult them; be derogatory towards them and I was just saying 'Please get yourself together,'" he said.
Arrington added that he may make a similar speech next week, but this time he'll allow everyone to hear it.
Sad, very sad.
“Afro American???
“I thought that was a racist term replaced by Black, replaced by african american...”
I think Afram is next in line.”
I thought the term “Afro-American” lasted about 3 weeks in the early 70’s.
The job of this judge is to send the scumbags to jail, not lecture them.
“I support what he did. That’s probably the first dressing-down most of those men have received in their lives.”
How do you know he gave them a dressing-down?
Someone who can't keep steady employment, i.e. "Why JaQuitta 'nuther job?"
All you freepers out there screaming “racism’ and feeling left out and all, I’m sure if you went and asked the judge nicely he’d be willing to tell you to pull your heads out of your butt too.
Please tell me he is looking for another job.
Interesting take on it from you. I found it refreshing. the judge had a stern talking to the young black kids trying to get them straighted out. I think he was doing the right thing. I guess we just read it differently.
Bill Cosby has tried to deliver the same message and was ridiculed by many in the black community for what he said.
Since you seem to appreciate the "intentions" of the judge, perhaps you would explain the reason for ordering these defendants' attorneys out of the courtroom.
I asked before whether the court reporter recorded the "speech" or whatever you want to call it.
Would one of the defendant's attorneys be justified in objecting to this process? Would you want a higher court to approve it? I find that the idea that the judge would not want to "embarass" somebody who has just been convicted of a crime, to be an embarassment of the legal process.
What would happen to a judge who pointed out, during such a closed proceeding, that the defendants had violated one of the Ten Commandments? How would we know if the proceeding was closed?
Judges have been removed for not being impartial as is their duty? How can one assess the impartiality of the judge if the proceeding is closed?
If the legal community as a whole decides that such proceedings can occur under some circumstances, what will the mechanism be to insure that such proceedings occur only under the approved circumstances?
It's really hard to avoid the fact that the disinfectant we count on in our legal processes is "the light of day". If you can't observe that the right things are happening, you can pretty much count on them not happening.
What was wrong was ordering out the WHITE lawyers. If he let the black lawyers stay, then the judge cannot stay on the bench.
I have no problem with this. Crime is indeed a Black problem in America. Well past time to stop blaming whitey and lay blame where it belongs.
Hey look on the bright side, because of his stunt the perps will probably be able to gain a mistrial.
Eh I don’t really see a problem with this. They probably listened to him more than they would have otherwise.
LOL! You beat me to it. I was going to comment, so what’s strange about that in Atlanta?
Could be he dismissed them by name. “Mr. ___, Mr. ___, Ms. ___-___, Ms. ___-___, .... please set out of the courtroom.” And did not say color.
Or is that hoping for too much?
“I didn’t want them to think I was talking down to them; trying to embarrass them or insult them; be derogatory towards them...”
Oh let me do it!!!!
You must have misread my post.
I will bet you he is a product of affirmative action.
As well-intentioned as this was, he should be removed from the bench and disbarred.
The judge said the majority of people who appear before him accused of crimes such as murder, rape and robbery are black and he wanted to do something about it, one on one.
?
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