Highlights: In 2015, upstate New York judge Robert J. Putorti was overseeing a court hearing involving a Black defendant. Nothing out of the ordinary for a judge to do right? Except, when a Black man approached the stand “too quickly,” Judge Putorti pulled a loaded gun on him in court.

Recently, this led to a review from the New York State Court of Appeals, where they discovered that Putorti would often brag about the incident and would recall the race and stature of the defendant when he would tell the story of the incident to others, according to the Associated Press.

Specifically, Putorti described the defendant to another judge as being a “big black man” who is the same height as LeBron James (6’9”). He also described him as being built “like a football player.” But in reality, the defendant was built more like Allen Iverson, coming in at six feet tall and only weighing 165 pounds.

Putorti’s termination was also made easier by the fact that he participated in fundraising events that were illegal for New York State judges to attend. This occurred while he was being investigated for the loaded gun incident.

  • @TheDoozer
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    8511 months ago

    Is pointing a gun at an unarmed person who is offering no threat to you not brandishing? Is that not a crime? Do crimes that happen in a courtroom not count as crimes?

    It’s not justice that he was fired years later. If he’s not charged that is blatant, unmitigated corruption.

      • @some_designer_dude
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        311 months ago

        Or being white. A white judge, though, is basically untouchable. He’s on track for the Supreme Court, probably.

    • @SheeEttin
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      1811 months ago

      In NY, it’s called menacing, and it’s a crime.

        • @TheDoozer
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          911 months ago

          A jury? And a different judge to preside over the case?

        • Natanael
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          311 months ago

          Lots of places require appointed judges to have a law license, so the bar has power

          • @dhork
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            11 months ago

            I think this guy was an elected town judge, though, and in NY State town and village judges do not have to be lawyers, but if they are not they need training (and to pass a test) before they can hear cases.

    • @shalafi
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      111 months ago

      Clearly brandishing. You’re not seeing my gun unless I’ve judged there is no other way to stop you from harming me or someone else. And if it’s gone that far? I’m shooting to kill. Full. Fucking. Stop.

      Guns are the option of absolute last resort. This kind of bullshit deserves time in a concrete and steel box with gun rights forever revoked.

      • @Nudding
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        611 months ago

        Lmao, Americans are so scared of every day situations they need guns to feel safe when they go to Walmart