Apparently, there’s a Miami judge who likes to call black people “moolies” and “thugs” while having ex parte communications with defense counsel.
After an investigation, the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission determined that Circuit Judge Stephan Millan did indeed use the term “moolie” to refer to a black defendant, and seemed to call the family members of another black person “thugs.” The investigative panel recommended that Judge Millan be suspended for 30 days, fined $5,000, and publicly reprimanded.
And that’s it.
Decrypting Crypto, Digital Assets, And Web3
"Decrypting Crypto" is a go-to guide for understanding the technology and tools underlying Web3 and issues raised in the context of specific legal practice areas.
The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association, the bar association for lawyers of color in Miami, is calling for more. From Law.com:
“We fear that his judgment has been clouded and biased based upon his appalling racist statements,” the group wrote.
The release followed the judge’s admission he used a derogatory term, “moolie,” for a black defendant and later called a black family and witnesses “thugs.”
“A judge who refers to people as ‘moolies’ or ‘thugs’ has no place on the bench,” the association wrote in a statement.
The thought that a person can say racist things and somehow not be “a racist” is a concept that’s almost entirely invented by white people. It is a complete fiction some white people tell themselves so they do not have to hold fellow whites accountable for their racism.
How could you possibly get a fair trial from somebody who likes to pretend he’s an extra on the Sopranos when he’s in chambers? How can you even ask a black defendant to put their fate in the hands of such a judge?
Skills That Set Firms Apart
Legal expertise alone isn’t enough. Today’s most successful firms invest in developing the skills that drive collaboration, leadership, and business growth. Our on-demand, customizable training modules deliver practical, high-impact learning for attorneys and staff—when and where they need it.
For God’s sake, defense counsel ratted this judge out. This is what the judge says when talking to the defense. Can you imagine what he says to prosecutors behind closed doors?
There are a lot of things you can do in this country while harboring a penchant to use racial slurs. Being a judge should not be one of them. The fact that people will try to rehabilitate Judge Millan just shows how truly racist this country is.
Black Bar Association Wants Miami Judge Off the Bench for Using Racial Slurs [Law.com]
Elie Mystal is the Executive Editor of Above the Law and the Legal Editor for More Perfect. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at [email protected]. He will resist.