On April 1, 2016, I ran a blog about an African American judge in Kentucky who was targeted for discipline for doing his job - for dismissing all-white jury panels picked by a white prosecutor as not reflecting the cross-section of the community, and as constitutionally invalid for trial of non-white (African American) criminal defendants.
Actually, Judge Olu Stevens was right.
Yet, he was nevertheless targeted for discipline.
I regret to inform my readers that reportedly Judge Stevens agreed to a paid suspension.
I do not know what has driven him to make such a decision, possibly waiving his major constitutional rights in this case, but it is what it is.
Nevertheless, supporters of Judge Stevens are rallying around him to fight racial profiling in judicial disciplinary proceedings, as well as to fight racial inequality in how criminal justice is dispensed against white and African American criminal defendants.
Judge Stevens was the first African American judge among the all-white trial judges at the criminal trial court level when he was elected, and that is in the entire state of Kentucky.
Now there are three African American judges, two with Judge Stevens suspended.
I continue to maintain a position that Judge Olu Stevens is entitled to public support and recognition for his courageous and independent discharge of his constitutional duties, and not discipline.
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