Judge Suspended For Wearing Blackface To Party

nbc4.tv ^ | December 14, 2004 | nbc4

[crushelits]

NEW ORLEANS -- The Louisiana Supreme Court has given a judge a six-month suspension for wearing blackface makeup, handcuffs and a jail jumpsuit to a Halloween party.

Judge Timothy Ellender will lose all of his pay during the suspension. That totals more than $50,000.

Ellender, who is white, said the costumes worn by him and his wife were meant as a joke. She dressed as a policewoman. And the party's host, Ellender's brother-in-law, was dressed as Buckwheat.

The justices agreed Ellender did not mean to insult blacks. Still, they ordered him to take a sociology course to get "a greater understanding of racial sensitivity."

[Revolting cat!]

Oops, sorry, I must of took a wrong turn at Albuquerque and ended up at DU, with its "RACISM" obsession. There was a book out recently about the history of minstrelsy that is a recommended reading to the dumbass, uneducated comment makers.

[zarf]

but it ought to bother you that anybody would be fined $50k for wearing a costume to a party.

NO!! He's a damned judge for god sakes!!! He should be tossed from the bench.

Imagine being a black individual and facing the judgement of this jackass.

[fromunda]

No, for being a racist son of a #*@&@! You think he all of a sudden just decided one night that it would be funny to go to a party in black face or has he in all likelihood been this prejudiced and insensitive for a long period of time - after all, he's just a good ol' boy from a parish in Louisiana. We don't need him in the party - what is the value added this racist brings to our party?

[fromunda]

For twenty years, he's been sittin' on the bench with nobody payin' him no nevermind. I am a Southerner by birth and a Southerner by education - this racist crap still goes on and it needs to be stamped out when we see it.

[zarf]

There was a book out recently about the history of minstrelsy that is a recommended reading to the dumbass, uneducated comment makers.

Meaning what? That blackface isn't and wasn't a racist form of entertainment?

Granted, in it's original form the minstrelsy was indicative of the white man's never ending obsession and jealousy of the black man's culture, talent and sexuality (an freakish yet complimentary tip of the cap), but by today's standards - fuggedaboutit - it's racist pure and simple.

[fromunda]

You're scary and to think that you and I think alike on a lot of issues - frightening.

[cicero's_son]

This is the worst kind of racism and he should be tossed. He's not worthy of the robe.

Really? The worst kind of racism, eh?

And I thought lynching was bad.

[Gone GF]

"Since the article didn't mention the Judge's party affiliation, I take it that he must be a Rat."

And in this case you would be wrong.

[atomicpossum]

I said I wouldn't.

[Revolting cat!]

But a "American-African" judge using this product daily is just peachy, ain't it? Just who's scary and who's scared of being accused of a crime worse than double murder (ask Mark Fuhrman) - RACISM?!

[fromunda]

Racism is the subtle, seething mindset - not the act. Particularly, as a judge, if as a racist judge I sit in judgment of people of color, but don't call anyone names, make no overt statement of my beliefs, am I any less of a racist.

[cyborg]

bttt

[HenryLeeII]

The Louisiana Supreme Court has given a judge a six-month suspension for wearing blackface makeup, handcuffs and a jail jumpsuit to a Halloween party.

Is the court saying that Judge Ellender should have changed into his costume upon arrival at the party, and not worn it as he travelled to it?

[cicero's_son]

I think he showed a serious lack of judgment. For that alone, he should probably consider another career.

But to say that the guy is guilty of "the worst kind of racism" because he came dressed as Buckwheat to a party seems a little histrionic to me.

[dfwgator]

And in this case you would be wrong.

I guess there's a first time for everything.

[cicero's_son]

But you're condemning for the act, fromunda. How can we know the mindset without a betraying act?

Every human being has biases, be they racial, religious, political, personal, or what have you. The best judges, in my opinion, are the ones who are aware of those biases in themselves and are capable of setting them aside in the courtroom.

[ladiesview61]

That's just unbelievable! A moron, let alone a judge, should have the good sense to realize what a racist act that is. Forget the fine, take him off the bench. Obviously he has poor "judgment"!

[brooklyn dave]

He certainly is a dumb ass.....when you're in such a position all eyes and ears are on you 24/7. Yup I do agree with posts that said racial sensitivity courses are equivalent to commie reeducation camps etc etc but still that doesn't take away from a lapse in common sense as in this particular case.

[dfwgator]

Of course the media conveniently forgets that Mel Carnahan did the exact same thing.

[deport]

Every human being has biases, be they racial, religious, political, personal, or what have you. The best judges, in my opinion, are the ones who are aware of those biases in themselves and are capable of setting them aside in the courtroom.

---

From a dissenting opinion in the case:


In a dissenting opinion, Justice Jeffrey Victory found the court's decision to be excessive.

"A review of Judge Ellender's record on the bench turned up absolutely no evidence of racial bias in his decisions; in fact, the review showed that, if anything, he was more lenient toward African-American defendants," Victory wrote. "Nothing suggests that Judge Ellender abused his office in order to further his personal desires. Finally, Judge Ellender apologized for his actions both publicly and in private meetings with local leaders of the black community."

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1103007452127580.xml