What better way to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month then to read an Associated Press story about a local judge being reprimanded for making disparaging comments about three black female public defenders?
Last April, Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone referred to the three lawyers as “The Supremes” and told a defendant to get “an experienced male attorney.” He has acknowledged that his comments suggested racial and sexual bias. Boone said he was trying to protect the three public defenders from representing a difficult defendant.
But isn’t that their job? Women can do any job a man can do. That includes representing criminal defendants. Even if they are male.
I discussed this issue on a message board for people local to the Hagerstown area. Most people didn’t think this was that big a deal. Some said that it was actually a compliment since The Supremes are a famous singing group and maybe the judge was a fan of their music. I don’t agree. The only thing these three lawyers had in common was the color of their skin and their sex.
It would be like me referring to three black men as the Harlem Globetrotters. If I were to say something like that where I work, I would most likely be fired. This man is a judge.
It’s just another strike against Hagerstown concerning racism and how the rest of the country sees when they take a look at us. Things like this make me cringe. Recently our city got some negative exposure in the national media after the plan to rename a street after baseball great Willie Mays received negative response from some in the community and the plan eventually failed because of it. Mays played his first professional baseball game here in Hagerstown. Hagerstown’s former mayor William Breichner thought race was a factor in the public response that led to the end of the proposal.
I was embarrassed after the Willie Mays street renaming controversy and I feel embarrassed over this controversy. It makes us look like a bunch of ignorant racist hicks. Stuff like this only makes it harder to attract good companies bringing good wages to the region.
RonAndrewSchooly
/ February 2, 2008At least he didn’t call them TLC.
[Schooly pours a 40 on the curb] This is for you, Left Eye!
Jesse Jace
/ February 3, 2008Did he tell them to go back to the ghetto? That kind of insult is “in” these days.
Jenn
/ February 3, 2008I walk past Boone nearly every day at the Circuit Courthouse. Next time I’ll try and trip him.
Rick
/ February 3, 2008Jen, do you know if all three lawyers were in fact black? The Herald-Mail said they were. The AP said they were. Councilwomen Kelly Cromer and the mayor said at least one of them was not and that there was nothing racial about it.
Jenn
/ February 3, 2008I’m not 100% certain, but I’ll get the definitive answer tomorrow at the Courthouse.
Wow, it’s great to have Hagerstown in the news again for racism. Just so, so…great. *Charlie Brown sigh*
Jenn
/ February 4, 2008Okay, just talked to several people here…only ONE of the attorneys was a black woman. So now I’m extra peeved–at Boone for his stupidity (of course) and the media’s misreporting of the story.
Rick
/ February 5, 2008Thanks Jen. I wonder why it’s reported everywhere that all three lawyers were black? I guess the Herald-Mail misreported it and the AP just took it as the truth. Knowing that only one of the lawyers was in fact black makes me think there was no racial element to it.
It was just a sexist statement. :(
Ann
/ February 5, 2008I know this judge. He IS a sexist, racist… whether all 3 female public defenders were black or not. His comment was/is completely inappropriate especially given the stature of his position. How can a well educated man like this try to justify his sexist/racist comments in a public forum? Shame, shame on you Judge Boone! I hope this story goes to CNN!