Federal Judge Threatened me with Jail for Using the "N" Word

Federal Trials Are Often Ruled by Little Hitlers

Years ago, when I did a fair amount of federal civil rights work, I had a case where, I was told (emphatically, as I recall), by the judge that I could not use the word “nigger” in his court room. He refused to listen to my objections and my argument. My client was a black man employed by a local utility company.

We went to lunch and I recall being very angry. A good part of our case hinged on me brining out certain evidence and the defense counsel had scored big time by getting the judge to give a favorable ruling on that issue. I told my co-counsel and defendant as we returned from lunch, “Hang on, guys. Things are going to get a little rough. (I fully expected to be fined.) This judge was a tyrant and a notorious bully.

I was cross-examining a supervisor for the company. I asked a simple, direct question. It caused an explosion from defense counsel and the judge. My co-counsel told me later that he leaned over to our client and said, “Hope you got a toothbrush. We’re all going to jail!”

All trial lawyers have “war stories.” Here’s one that might make some of you grin.

Published once or twice a week. No deluge. Shorts designed to break your day up and sometimes put a grin on your face, or a wrinkle across your brow as you think about what I said. (The hope is to put a wrinkle in your brain.)