An Atlanta, Georgia, judge who ordered white lawyers out of his courtroom so he could lecture African-American defendants called that decision a "mistake" Tuesday night."In retrospect, it was a mistake," Judge Marvin Arrington told CNN. "Because my sheriff said to me, 'Judge, that message should be given to everybody' -- 'Don't violate the law, make something out of yourself, go to school, find a role model, somebody that will help you advance your life.'"
Arrington, who is African-American, is a judge in Fulton County, Georgia, which includes the city of Atlanta.
He said he got fed up seeing a parade of young black defendants shuffle into his courtroom and decided to address them one day last week -- out of the earshot of white lawyers.
"I came out and saw the defendants, and it was about 99.9 percent Afro-Americans," Arrington told CNN affiliate WSB-TV of Atlanta, "and at some point in time, I excused some lawyers -- most of them white -- and said to the young people in here, 'What in the world are you doing with your lives?'"
The judge thought his message would make a greater impact if he delivered it to a black-only audience, he said.
- WHEN BLACK JUDGES FEEL COMFORTABLE ADMONISHING BLACK DEFENDANTS IN FRONT OF WHITES, THEN WE WILL HAVE RE-CROSSED A IMPORTANT THRESHOLD AGAIN.
- YEARS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND REVERSE DISCRIMINATION AND "VICTIMHOOD STATUS" HAVE INCREASED THE RACIAL DIVIDE IN THIS COUNTRY MORE THAN WHITE RACISM.
All I can say is Thank You to Judge Arrington, as in the past and most frequent blacks have been admonished, chastised, and sentence in front of many whites. But to clear a courtroom where it is just him and the young creates and environment where one man of stature and intelligence is able to tell men who are again about to be chastise and sentence for a crime that they need to adjust their lifestyles and proceed in a different direction other than the negative one their on right now.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is a racist. Plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteASA, you don't know this man at all to call him a racist. I applaud him for thinking "outside the box" to try to make a difference. It was not mean-spirited, but was meant to be impactful to his audience. If it straightens up one kid in the group, it was well worth it. Not all conversations are for all ears.
ReplyDeleteThis man is certainly not racist. He was simply trying to send a message to young, black Americans.
ReplyDeleteIf a white judge kicked out black lawyers to lecture black teens, it would not be proper. If a white judge kicked out black lawyers to lecture white teens, it might be proper.
Either way, this demographic (young black males) is in need of some positive influence from figures of authority.
My only complaint may be one of futility. Did his message really make any difference?
If this was reversed Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson would have freaked out, the judge would have been fired and run out of Atlanta. ASA I agree with you
ReplyDeleteAmazing, simply amazing. This Judge should be removed from the bench immediately. His message was not race specific and could have been properly delivered. Only later, when asked to explain his decision he realizes his mistake. Which makes me wonder how many other times has he made improper race based decisions. This was not "thinking outside the box" nor did it serve any real, impact-full purpose other than to demonstrate the judge's inability to judge without prejudice. Shame on him. And shame on those who feel that this kind of action has a place in our "all men are created equal" justice system.
ReplyDeleteThe article states:
ReplyDelete"and at some point in time, I excused some lawyers -- most of them white -- ..."
If MOST of them are white I guess some others where black. How can one comment on this as a race issue if the information about the topic is incomplete?
He himself said he made a mistake. What sort of mistake? A racist mistake. The proof is with Jesse and Al's response. I'm sure the double standard will will prevail once again, right Jesse?
ReplyDeleteLet's see how it works? If Black leaders don't lecture blacks on getting the errant ones among them to mend their ways, it's something they need to do! They are in trouble if they do? Make up your minds!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the judge was able to get away with this because he's black, but I don't think he's a racist. It seems to me he's more of a realist. The reality is, he sees the same perpetrators time and time again, and 99% of them are black. Since blacks don't make up 99% of the population of Fulton County, then you have an inordinately high number of black offenders. You can argue about the reasons for this, but the fact is it needs to be dealt with, and the judge was trying to do his part.
ReplyDeleteBeing a 37 yo white male, I find the Judges actions spot on. Know your audience is what we are all taught in public speaking, when trying to get a point across to young black men, why not just have them in the court room. Having their undivided attention to listen to the words of someone who could be a role model without the embarassment or distraction of non-African American on-lookers served the judge and the city of Atlanta better than the opposite. The sad part is, actions like this allow people to beat their chests and take away from what he was trying to do. Judge Arrington, I thank you for saying what so many fathers fail to tell young black men in this country.
ReplyDeleteLet's imagine a scenario where a white judge removed African Americans from his court before admonishing white defendants. The judge's concern for defendants is laudable but his "color consious" lapse is inexcusable. Maybe he should listen to Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech. Maybe then he would view the white lawyers as people rather than as whitey.
ReplyDeleteLets imagine you had not nullified a very valid point by using the word "whitey" it is emotions like that, which force reaction rather than solutions.
ReplyDelete