State Judges

Hate Crime Suspects Never Expect A Black Judge

The judge noted: "It isn't 1964; you're not in Tupelo, Mississippi."

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(Stock image by iStock)

(Stock image by iStock)

When a hate crime suspects goes before a judge, accused of racially motivated crimes, he probably doesn’t want to see an African-American judge on the bench. Assuming, of course, that the criminal defendant is as racist as the allegations against him would indicate, you have to imagine this is the worst case scenario. One Chicago judge is perfectly willing to acknowledge this fitting twist of fate.

On Monday, Louis Herrera, charged with a hate crime, battery making physical contact, and simple assault, appeared before Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr., and the judge couldn’t help but comment, as reported by DNA Info:

“Little did you know when they brought you here today who you’d be looking at,” Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. told Louis Herrera.

Earlier in the hearing, the judge said: “It isn’t 1964; you’re not in Tupelo, Mississippi.”

You have to appreciate the delicate line Judge Bourgeois walks between letting his opinions be known and not saying something inappropriate to a defendant. Setting the bail at $450,000, he went on to add:

“So the record is clear, I believe Americans can hate whomever they want to hate — but you can keep it to yourself. … I believe you are a danger. This city has enough problems.”

The incident occurred in the parking lot of a restaurant, where a car of African-Americans were writing out cards for an engagement party they were about to attend. Herrera allegedly started screaming racial slurs at the car, when a woman in the car opened her window to ask him to leave. Herrera allegedly responded by punching the woman in the head, and continuing his racist rant.

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Interestingly, the victims were actually in the wrong parking lot as the party they were trying to attend was at a second location of the same restaurant. Some days, you just can’t win.

Black Judge Tells Hate Crime Suspect: Bet You Didn’t Expect To See Me Here [DNA Info]

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