Judiciary
Choose accused of creating homophobic and racist remarks agrees to resign for well being causes
A New York choose has agreed to resign and by no means once more search judicial workplace following allegations that she made homophobic and racist remarks.
Choose Harriet L. Thompson, 67, had denied making lots of the remarks. However she agreed to resign for well being causes after she produced a letter from her physician stating that she was not medically match for an ethics trial, in keeping with a Jan. 9 press release by the New York Fee on Judicial Conduct and a stipulation in her case.
Amongst her alleged feedback are that “being homosexual is an abomination to mankind” and that Hispanic individuals had a “deceitful trait that goes means again to biblical instances,” the New York Times stories. She was additionally accused of failing to behave on circumstances in a well timed method, in keeping with the stipulation.
Different publications with protection embrace the Brooklyn Paper, Law.com, the City and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. The Legal Profession Blog additionally famous the case.
Thompson was considered one of two surrogate’s court docket judges in Brooklyn, which oversees issues resembling wills and trusts, guardianships and adoptions. She had been suspended with pay since December 2021, however a choose ruled last month that court docket directors didn’t have the authority to droop her. The opinion didn’t enable Thompson to begin listening to circumstances, nevertheless.
A few of the allegations in opposition to Thompson stemmed from her dispute with the general public administrator who dealt with the estates of deceased individuals earlier than her court docket. She had alleged he discriminated in opposition to Black workers, and he or she refused to listen to issues if the administrator was personally engaged on them. She additionally alleged the administrator employed solely younger white males for non permanent jobs.
The administrator stated the allegations have been unfaithful and Thompson made them as a result of he was homosexual. An investigation discovered Thompson’s allegations to be unsubstantiated, in keeping with Legislation.com.
A listening to within the ethics case had been scheduled for subsequent week.
Thompson was represented by Andrew S. Fisher. He advised the New York Instances that the stipulation within the ethics case included no discovering of wrongdoing, and Thompson would have “vigorously defended herself” if she hadn’t skilled medical issues.
