Coon Court
2023-10-24 19:41:33 UTC
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) â An upstate New York judge who pointed a loaded
handgun at a Black man during a 2015 court hearing was removed from
office Thursday by the state's highest court.
Justice Robert J. Putorti was a Whitehall Town and Village Court
judge. He repeatedly emphasized the race and stature of the litigant
when recounting the episode, sometimes boastfully, according to an
independent review by the New York State Court of Appeals. Putorti
had said he aimed the gun at the man because he approached the stand
too quickly, crossing a stop line for litigants.
In one instance, Putorti described the defendant to another judge as
being 6 feet 9 inches tall (206 cm) and âbuilt like a football
player.â In reality, the man was only 6 feet (183 cm) and 165 pounds
(75 kg), the decision noted.
The high court affirmed the state Commission on Judicial Conduct's
removal of Putorti, and noted the former judge's description of the
defendant âexploited a classic and common racist trope that Black
men are inherently threatening or dangerous, exhibiting bias or, at
least, implicit bias.â
Putortiâs lack of remorse after the gun episode contributed to his
removal, according to the decision.
Putorti also participated in prohibited fundraising events to
benefit the Elks Lodge, where he also held office, which occurred
while he was under investigation for the gun episode.
While the fundraising would not itself warrant a removal, its timing
and the fact that it happened while Putorti was under investigation
showed âan unwillingness or inability to abide by the Rules of
Judicial Conduct,â the decision noted.
Phone messages left for Putortiâs lawyers at Cerio Law Offices in
Syracuse were not immediately returned.
âIt is indefensible and inimical to the role of a judge to brandish
a loaded weapon in court, without provocation or justification, then
brag about it repeatedly with irrelevant racial remarks,â said
Robert H. Tembeckjian, administrator for the state's Commission on
Judicial Conduct, in a statement. "The Courtâs ruling today makes
clear that there is no place on the bench for one who behaves this
way.â
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/new-york-judge-fired-for-
pointing-gun-at-a-black-man-in-court/ar-AA1iximt
handgun at a Black man during a 2015 court hearing was removed from
office Thursday by the state's highest court.
Justice Robert J. Putorti was a Whitehall Town and Village Court
judge. He repeatedly emphasized the race and stature of the litigant
when recounting the episode, sometimes boastfully, according to an
independent review by the New York State Court of Appeals. Putorti
had said he aimed the gun at the man because he approached the stand
too quickly, crossing a stop line for litigants.
In one instance, Putorti described the defendant to another judge as
being 6 feet 9 inches tall (206 cm) and âbuilt like a football
player.â In reality, the man was only 6 feet (183 cm) and 165 pounds
(75 kg), the decision noted.
The high court affirmed the state Commission on Judicial Conduct's
removal of Putorti, and noted the former judge's description of the
defendant âexploited a classic and common racist trope that Black
men are inherently threatening or dangerous, exhibiting bias or, at
least, implicit bias.â
Putortiâs lack of remorse after the gun episode contributed to his
removal, according to the decision.
Putorti also participated in prohibited fundraising events to
benefit the Elks Lodge, where he also held office, which occurred
while he was under investigation for the gun episode.
While the fundraising would not itself warrant a removal, its timing
and the fact that it happened while Putorti was under investigation
showed âan unwillingness or inability to abide by the Rules of
Judicial Conduct,â the decision noted.
Phone messages left for Putortiâs lawyers at Cerio Law Offices in
Syracuse were not immediately returned.
âIt is indefensible and inimical to the role of a judge to brandish
a loaded weapon in court, without provocation or justification, then
brag about it repeatedly with irrelevant racial remarks,â said
Robert H. Tembeckjian, administrator for the state's Commission on
Judicial Conduct, in a statement. "The Courtâs ruling today makes
clear that there is no place on the bench for one who behaves this
way.â
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/new-york-judge-fired-for-
pointing-gun-at-a-black-man-in-court/ar-AA1iximt