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.
And it only took eight years! I wonder how many other lives that racist ruined in the meantime.
And he probably would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for those pesky financial crimes he committed.
I can excuse racism, but I draw the line at financial crimes!
You can excuse racism?
Whoosh
Are you sure?
no way 2015 was 8 years ago. three is the highest i’ll go
Every time I hear a story like this, I ask the same questions. Butterfly effect: What led up to this?
It can be pretty reasonable for a judge to be armed, even if they are supposed to have a bailiff for that. It was probably less about the incident, and more about the bragging.
Imagine being this deluded.
Do I think he pulled the gun because it was a black guy and he could get away with it? Absolutely.
But you have to look at it from an objective perspective. Judges get threatened and it’s reasonable for them to be armed. Now you have to prove this is racism, and not standard self defense. The incident alone makes that difficult. The bragging makes that much easier.
Why do they need to be armed when there are actual cops, the bailiff, and other people who actually have the job of protecting people in the public building? You are delusional. Judges don’t get assaulted on the reg in court. How can he be seen as impartial after showing this kind of behavior?
He didn’t get criminally charged with anything, he was reviewed by the Commission on Judicial Conduct. They can remove judges on the basis of ethics violations, not laws broken, and even the appearance of bias is something that can cause a judge to be censured.
Dude he pulled a gun on an unarmed man. Owning and carrying a gun outside of court? Yes, fine whatever. Inside the court where no one except the bailiff(s) is supposed to have a weapon? Nah mate. No fucking way.
They make us regular people go through metal detectors and even leave our cell phones outside. I think I’m okay with judges not being allowed to strut around with firearms in a courtroom.
What?
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.
Very few crimes are crimes if you crime them while being a judge
Or being white. A white judge, though, is basically untouchable. He’s on track for the Supreme Court, probably.
Crimes committed by authority figures don’t count.
In NY, it’s called menacing, and it’s a crime.
Who judges the judge?
A jury? And a different judge to preside over the case?
Lots of places require appointed judges to have a law license, so the bar has power
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.
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.
Lmao, Americans are so scared of every day situations they need guns to feel safe when they go to Walmart
Have you been to a Walmart though?
If this sounds like the behavior of some hick from a single-traffic light town that’s because that’s exactly what he is. According to the AP article about this case he’s from Whitehall which is a town in upstate NY near Glens Falls with 4k residents. Just another reminder to avoid Upstate.
pointed a loaded gun at someone? fuck this guy
Glad this jackass is finally suffering some of the consequences he greatly deserves.
I bet Trump is wishing this guy was his judge. They would get along great!
Yo how is this editor gonna throw subtle shade at AI like that?
Talkin bout practice, man. Not a game… Practice.
