Judge Suspended for Wearing Blackface Makeup to a Party

[Amused]

File this under 'WTF was he thinking'...

Judge Suspended for Black Makeup
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY, AP

NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 13) - A judge who wore blackface makeup, handcuffs and a jail jumpsuit at a Halloween party will be suspended for six months, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The justices voted 5-2 to suspend Judge Timothy Ellender for a year without pay for dishonoring his position, but to defer half of that penalty. Ellender will lose more than $50,000 in pay, one judge noted.

Ellender, who is white, testified the costumes worn by him and his wife - she was dressed as a policewoman - were meant only as a joke to show he was her prisoner. The party's host, Ellender's brother-in-law, was dressed as Buckwheat.

The justices agreed Ellender did not mean to insult blacks. Nevertheless, they ordered him to take a sociology course "which will assist him in achieving a greater understanding of racial sensitivity."

Phone messages left with Ellender and his attorney, Bill Bordelon, were not immediately returned.

Jerome Boykin, head of the Terrebonne Parish branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, applauded the ruling.

"The Supreme Court sent a strong message that the court won't tolerate racist acts by judges," he said.

Bordelon argued Ellender should not be punished because the blackface incident occurred only once and was not persistent behavior. But Justice Chet Traylor, writing for the majority, said the incident was damaging.

"The negative shroud cast upon the state's judiciary by Judge Ellender's actions will only be lifted by time," Taylor said.

 

[Deeko]

odd

 

[Adul]

:Q

 

[MisterJackson]

It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

I'm usually the first here to ridicule someone for pulling the race card, but this is disturbing.

He is a judge. His actions show that his idea of a criminal is a black man. He could have gone as a white guy in cuffs, but choose to be black, showing a disturbing bias.

Honestly? I wouldn't want to be a black guy charged with a crime and trying to prove my innocence in front of this judge.

 

[Kishan]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

I'm usually the first here to ridicule someone for pulling the race card, but this is disturbing.

He is a judge. His actions show that his idea of a criminal is a black man. He could have gone as a white guy in cuffs, but choose to be black, showing a disturbing bias.

Honestly? I wouldn't want to be a black guy charged with a crime and trying to prove my innocence in front of this judge.

if he didn't put the blackface on, nothing would have happened...
way to go judge!

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

I'm usually the first here to ridicule someone for pulling the race card, but this is disturbing.

He is a judge. His actions show that his idea of a criminal is a black man. He could have gone as a white guy in cuffs, but choose to be black, showing a disturbing bias.

Honestly? I wouldn't want to be a black guy charged with a crime and trying to prove my innocence in front of this judge.

or he could have simply being sarcastic, since the majority of the poplulation sees inmates as being black for some strange reason.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

yea but he's a freakin' judge. he should have known better.

 

[edro]

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0881455.html

About 10.4% of the entire African-American male population in the United States aged 25 to 29 was incarcerated, by far the largest racial or ethnic group?by comparison, 2.4% of Hispanic men and 1.2% of white men in that same age group were incarcerated. According to a report by the Justice Policy Institute in 2002, the number of black men in prison has grown to five times the rate it was twenty years ago. Today, more African-American men are in jail than in college. In 2000 there were 791,600 black men in prison and 603,032 enrolled in college. In 1980, there were 143,000 black men in prison and 463,700 enrolled in college.

I agree that in his position, being a judge, that was a little strange... but if his costume was of a redneck with bucked teeth, a bottle of whiskey and a cover-alls... and he painted his face white (actual white paint)... no one would have cared.

 

[Kishan]

Let's state the facts here:

Most of the people in prison are black. Some of them even go back in after they are released. Granted there is a higher percentage of black people in prison, but the costume is disrepectful, considering the fact he is a judge. If he wasn't a judge, would we care? No.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

I'm usually the first here to ridicule someone for pulling the race card, but this is disturbing.

He is a judge. His actions show that his idea of a criminal is a black man. He could have gone as a white guy in cuffs, but choose to be black, showing a disturbing bias.

Honestly? I wouldn't want to be a black guy charged with a crime and trying to prove my innocence in front of this judge.

Agreed. The black makeup idea for a prisoner costume was over the top and shows a bias. Not saying that he's necessarily a racist, but it shows a preconception of a criminal as a black man... not exactly what you'd expect out of a judge. He could just as easily gone as a white man.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

I don't see anything wrong with what he did. Someone got upset, pulled some strings, and got this guy suspended and it cost him $50,000.00. People need to get over themselves. Whiny bitches.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
I don't see anything wrong with what he did. Someone got upset, pulled some strings, and got this guy suspended and it cost him $50,000.00. People need to get over themselves. Whiny bitches.

So you would not be worried if you were a black man accused of a crime and had to be judged by this guy?

I know I would. I would be a afraid this guy would be assuming I am guilty because I am black.

 

[Kishan]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
I don't see anything wrong with what he did. Someone got upset, pulled some strings, and got this guy suspended and it cost him $50,000.00. People need to get over themselves. Whiny bitches.

So you would not be worried if you were a black man accused of a crime and had to be judged by this guy?

I know I would. I would be a afraid this guy would be assuming I am guilty because I am black.

true.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

I'm usually the first here to ridicule someone for pulling the race card, but this is disturbing.

He is a judge. His actions show that his idea of a criminal is a black man. He could have gone as a white guy in cuffs, but choose to be black, showing a disturbing bias.

Honestly? I wouldn't want to be a black guy charged with a crime and trying to prove my innocence in front of this judge.

Absolutely correct. The slight possibility of bias in the judiciary can open a Pandora's box of appeals and outcry. Regardless of his intent, it was a very dumb thing to do. He can be the nicest guy in the world, but he obviously gave off a small semblance of bias which is devastating to the system. I'm hardly PC, nor do I care for continual showings of the race card, but in this case this had to be done. You can't undermine the integrity of the system -- not even a little bit. If I was black I'd be scared as hell to go before the guy.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
I don't see anything wrong with what he did. Someone got upset, pulled some strings, and got this guy suspended and it cost him $50,000.00. People need to get over themselves. Whiny bitches.

So you would not be worried if you were a black man accused of a crime and had to be judged by this guy?

I know I would. I would be a afraid this guy would be assuming I am guilty because I am black.

If I didn't do the crime, I wouldn't be worried at all. I don't think he was trying to say that's how he think's of the modern day criminal.
I think he was trying to be funny, and show off to his friends. If he had gone as a white criminal, no one would have bitched at all. No one. But he decides to put on some black face paint, and all of a sudden he is a racist jerk not fit to judge. It was meant to be funny, and people need to get over the color of their skin, and let it go.

Some of the most racist people I know are african americans. Can call you a cracker, make fun of you to no end, and that's alright. But if a white person makes one comment, one joke, one anything about another race, they are a racist piece of shit, and need to take a course on appeasing other races.

 

[FFactory0x]

Screw RACIAL SENSITIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT IF A BLACK GUY PAINTED HIMSELF WHITE!!!! OH SH1T WHATCH OUT. I HATE PEOPLE!!!

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
It was a freakin' costume. Good God.

I'm usually the first here to ridicule someone for pulling the race card, but this is disturbing.

He is a judge. His actions show that his idea of a criminal is a black man. He could have gone as a white guy in cuffs, but choose to be black, showing a disturbing bias.

Honestly? I wouldn't want to be a black guy charged with a crime and trying to prove my innocence in front of this judge.

Agreed. The black makeup idea for a prisoner costume was over the top and shows a bias. Not saying that he's necessarily a racist, but it shows a preconception of a criminal as a black man... not exactly what you'd expect out of a judge. He could just as easily gone as a white man.

Indeed. A judge is supposed to remain unbiased and unprejudiced, his choosing to go blackface even if he said it was nothing is still an indication of the stupidity and mentally incompitence one finds in places of authority.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
If I didn't do the crime, I wouldn't be worried at all. I don't think he was trying to say that's how he think's of the modern day criminal.
I think he was trying to be funny, and show off to his friends. If he had gone as a white criminal, no one would have bitched at all. No one. But he decides to put on some black face paint, and all of a sudden he is a racist jerk not fit to judge. It was meant to be funny, and people need to get over the color of their skin, and let it go.

Some of the most racist people I know are african americans. Can call you a cracker, make fun of you to no end, and that's alright. But if a white person makes one comment, one joke, one anything about another race, they are a racist piece of ****, and need to take a course on appeasing other races.

I won't touch the first sentence in your second paragraph with a 50 foot pole. I suggest you edit it out before the flaming begins.

How is it an attempt to be funny? Is it supposed to be funny in the same way that was funny back when white actors would put on black face and act like idiots and primates? That kind of funny? Or do you mean funny like so racially insensitive that it's funny, like Sara Silverman's various jokes?

The fact is, the judge represents the justice system. His friends know he is a judge. He wore an outfit relating to the justice system. At the least that outfit reflects poorly on his position and taste, but may more likely indicate some racial bias. How do you know there was none anyway? If I were someone at that party and didn't know the judge well, I don't know what I would have thought. Certainly at the least I would think that the judge is insensitive to people's emotions. Even that is not a good stigma.

 

[metalmania]

So this is the free country...

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
I don't see anything wrong with what he did. Someone got upset, pulled some strings, and got this guy suspended and it cost him $50,000.00. People need to get over themselves. Whiny bitches.

So you would not be worried if you were a black man accused of a crime and had to be judged by this guy?

I know I would. I would be a afraid this guy would be assuming I am guilty because I am black.

If I didn't do the crime, I wouldn't be worried at all. I don't think he was trying to say that's how he think's of the modern day criminal.
I think he was trying to be funny, and show off to his friends. If he had gone as a white criminal, no one would have bitched at all. No one. But he decides to put on some black face paint, and all of a sudden he is a racist jerk not fit to judge. It was meant to be funny, and people need to get over the color of their skin, and let it go.

Some of the most racist people I know are african americans. Can call you a cracker, make fun of you to no end, and that's alright. But if a white person makes one comment, one joke, one anything about another race, they are a racist piece of shit, and need to take a course on appeasing other races.

Moronic post of the year award. Obviously you've never dealt with the CJ System if you think being innocent is all it takes. You know how many innocent people are in jail right now? You know how many have been executed. The system is good, but it is certainly nowhere near perfect. I'm not going to address the rest of the drivel about the difference in white and black racists. The whole idea of equality for racists sort of escapes me, so I really can't comment on your thoughts there. He certainly *did* show a bias because he is a white judge and he went as a "black" man. I'm sorry, but even their Supreme Court agreed that it would lead to potential problems.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
If I didn't do the crime, I wouldn't be worried at all. I don't think he was trying to say that's how he think's of the modern day criminal.
I think he was trying to be funny, and show off to his friends. If he had gone as a white criminal, no one would have bitched at all. No one. But he decides to put on some black face paint, and all of a sudden he is a racist jerk not fit to judge. It was meant to be funny, and people need to get over the color of their skin, and let it go.

Some of the most racist people I know are african americans. Can call you a cracker, make fun of you to no end, and that's alright. But if a white person makes one comment, one joke, one anything about another race, they are a racist piece of ****, and need to take a course on appeasing other races.

I won't touch the first sentence in your second paragraph with a 50 foot pole. I suggest you edit it out before the flaming begins.

How is it an attempt to be funny? Is it supposed to be funny in the same way that was funny back when white actors would put on black face and act like idiots and primates? That kind of funny? Or do you mean funny like so racially insensitive that it's funny, like Sara Silverman's various jokes?

The fact is, the judge represents the justice system. His friends know he is a judge. He wore an outfit relating to the justice system. At the least that outfit reflects poorly on his position and taste, but may more likely indicate some racial bias. How do you know there was none anyway? If I were someone at that party and didn't know the judge well, I don't know what I would have thought. Certainly at the least I would think that the judge is insensitive to people's emotions. Even that is not a good stigma.

2 words for you... Chris Rock

<---just playing devils advocate here :evil:

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
If I didn't do the crime, I wouldn't be worried at all. I don't think he was trying to say that's how he think's of the modern day criminal.
I think he was trying to be funny, and show off to his friends. If he had gone as a white criminal, no one would have bitched at all. No one. But he decides to put on some black face paint, and all of a sudden he is a racist jerk not fit to judge. It was meant to be funny, and people need to get over the color of their skin, and let it go.

Some of the most racist people I know are african americans. Can call you a cracker, make fun of you to no end, and that's alright. But if a white person makes one comment, one joke, one anything about another race, they are a racist piece of ****, and need to take a course on appeasing other races.

I won't touch the first sentence in your second paragraph with a 50 foot pole. I suggest you edit it out before the flaming begins.

How is it an attempt to be funny? Is it supposed to be funny in the same way that was funny back when white actors would put on black face and act like idiots and primates? That kind of funny? Or do you mean funny like so racially insensitive that it's funny, like Sara Silverman's various jokes?

The fact is, the judge represents the justice system. His friends know he is a judge. He wore an outfit relating to the justice system. At the least that outfit reflects poorly on his position and taste, but may more likely indicate some racial bias. How do you know there was none anyway? If I were someone at that party and didn't know the judge well, I don't know what I would have thought. Certainly at the least I would think that the judge is insensitive to people's emotions. Even that is not a good stigma.

I think it was more of a "White Female Cop arresting a Black Male Man and bringing him to a Halloween party" funny.
When he is at work, he better be on his best behavior. When he goes to a Halloween Party, it's time to let loose and have some fun.
Once again, I think some people need to get over themselves and realize that the world does not revolve around them.
Same situation. Change the white judge to a black judge with a black wife, and the black judge paints his face to look white. Still funny.
It's a Halloween Party. Get over it.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: metalmania
So this is the free country...

oh it is.

he has the right to go to parties dressed like that. Heck he can even go dressed as a KKK head dragon or whatver they are.


his job is diffrent. he showed bias against black people. I would be really worried if i was a black man in front of him.

 

[paulney]

OMG RACIST BASTARD !!111ONEONE

Wtf, people. He dressed up as a black criminal, and now all of a sudden he is a racist. Why? Because it happens so, the majority of the criminals are black. So, rather than correct the root of the problem, we label the judge a racist. Way to go - turn a blind eye to the facts and go at the judge.