Above the Law Judge of the Day: Beverly Grant

Who says going to court has to be so serious? Uh, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct, that’s who. They just admonished a judge for this behavior:

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Beverly Grant asked about 100 people in court to say “Go Seahawks” before taking their seats on Feb. 3. Dissatisfied with the low volume of the response, she repeated the request.

And then she made them “do the wave.”
If Judge Grant had been hearing some boring contract dispute, her drumming up enthusiasm for the local sports team might have been fine. But her docket was a bit different that day:

That same day, Grant sentenced Steve Keo Teang to 13 1/2 years for manslaughter in the 2005 shooting death of Tino Patricelli, 28.

The Seahawks played in the Super Bowl that weekend. Patricelli’s stepmother said she was offended in part because the game fell on the anniversary of her stepson’s death.

Oops…
Some denizens of the bench think that “wearing a black robe means never having to say you’re sorry.” It takes a big judge to own up to her mistakes. But Judge Grant did just that. She apologized for her in-court cheerleading — and then filed a judicial conduct complaint against herself.
Forget the Seahawks. Go Judge Grant!
Judge Admonished for ‘Go Seahawks’ Cheer [Associated Press]

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