Judge of the Day, Racism

Judge of the Day: Mark Badgett

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A piece of general advice for judges, lawyers, presidential candidates, and almost everyone else: avoid using the terms “you people” and “that one.” They tend to raise hackles. And get you removed from the bench.

From Courthouse News Service:

The North Carolina Supreme Court removed Judge Mark H. Badgett from the bench after he ordered a Hispanic man accused of domestic violence to pay child support when none was requested, saying “you people always find a way,” and, “I don’t know how you treat women in Mexico, but here you don’t treat them that way.”

After defendant Floyd Mandez Carreon objected, Badgett ordered a deputy clerk to take Carreon’s wallet from his pocket, hand over $140 in cash to Kathy Mendez Carreon, and let her take down Floyd’s Social Security number.

Ordering a deputy clerk to rob a defendant isn’t kosher? Another “whoops” moment after the jump.


Badgett made things worse by trying to cover the incident up:

When Badgett found out that the Judicial Standards Commission had ordered an investigation, he talked to the deputy clerk and plaintiff’s counsel, suggesting the defendant had been violent and claiming he didn’t recall the wallet incident. He told state investigators the same, adding that the defendant was known to carry a gun, that he suspected him of being a gang member based on his appearance, and that the deputy clerk had stood near him at the hearing to ensure safety.

Saying the defendant looked like a gang member probably didn’t help Badgett’s claim that he was not guilty of racial profiling.

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Badgett’s website reports that his campaign for re-election is suspended. He writes, “As for the future, my tentative plans are to reopen my law practice or work as a partner in another law firm.” We hope he isn’t planning on going into immigration law.

Judge Removed for Ethnic Comments and Cover-Up [Courthouse News Service]

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