Phew! Roommates, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct is seeking to remove Judge Erin Gall for racist comments toward four black teenagers.
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New York judge faces possible removal
On July 22, the request came after allegations that Judge Erin Gall threatened Black teenagers during a 2022 graduation party.
PEOPLE reports that Erin P. Gall, an Oneida County judge, gave a lengthy speech after the event. The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct released police body camera footage of the blast.
According to the outlet, body camera footage shows the teens searching for their lost car keys while Gall yells at them to leave and take an Uber home.
Later, the video shows the New York judge threatening to shoot the teens, who were still searching for their car keys.
“If they come back looking for that, I’ll call you while they’re on the property. If they do that, they’ll be arrested, or they’ll be shot on the property. Because when they trespass, you can shoot them on the property. I’ll shoot them on the property,” Gall says.
News week revealed that Gall’s disparaging outburst came after a confrontation between guests and non-guests at a party in New Hartford, New York. She attended with her family, while four black teenagers arrived after watching the event on a live stream.
Gall eventually asked officers to arrest the four teenagers and repeatedly emphasized that she was a judge.
When alerted to a possible lawsuit, Erin Gall assured officers of her support.
“Listen, but guess what, the good part is — the good part is I’m always on your side. You know I’d take anyone down for you. You know that. You know that. You know I’m on your side,” Gall exclaimed.
What’s next for the New York judge?
The AP reports that Erin Gall is suspended with pay while the New York Court of Appeals deliberates.
However, Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian condemned Gall’s actions in a statement accompanying the report.
“It is completely unacceptable for a judge to threaten gun violence, display racial bias, promise favorable treatment for police, or disregard a law intended to keep guns away from dangerous people. Any of these things would undermine public confidence in the administration of justice,” Tembeckjian said.
According to CBSErin Gall’s attorney plans to appeal, but the final decision on her removal rests with the New York State Court of Appeals.
According to the AP, Gall attributes his actions and words toward black teenagers to the trauma of an assault in 1990.
Gall’s attorney, Robert Julian, suggests a lesser sanction instead of removal.
“Judge Gall has been remorseful, apologetic and accepting of responsibility. She has acknowledged from the outset that she was ashamed of her conduct and humiliated by the way she reacted to the unforeseen events that unfolded. It is the opinion of her psychologists that her conduct was secondary to a traumatic reaction, which we offer not as an excuse but as an explanation,” Julian explained.
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What do you think, roommates?