Judge who Wore Racial Costume Faces State Supreme Court Today

• Louisiana judge Timothy Ellender appeared at a Halloween party in shackles, an afro wig and blackface makeup last year

A white judge who appeared at a Halloween party last year with an inmate jumpsuit, an Afro wig and a coating of black face paint goes before the Louisiana Supreme Court Tuesday facing a possible suspension. The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, which investigates complaints of misconduct, has recommended a one-year suspension without pay for state District Judge Timothy Ellender of Terrebonne Parish. Ellender, a white judge first elected to the bench in 1983, showed up at the party without the black face paint, but added it at the suggestion of his brother-in-law, who was dressed as Buckwheat. The high court, which scheduled arguments Tuesday, could take any number of steps against the judge, ranging from censure to removal from office. Ellender has apologized to Houma's black community for the costume and blamed his conduct on "mere stupidity and ignorance." But he said the stunt does not call into question his ability to fairly preside over black people in his courtroom, as some community leaders have contended. The Terrebonne Parish chapter of the NAACP  has called for Ellender's ouster. In addition to the one-year suspension, the commission wants to charge Ellender $2,100 that was spent on an investigation into his conduct. [more ]  and [more] A lifetime ban and mandatory lifetime employment at McDonald's would be perfect.

• Judge Timothy Ellender (Good Ol' White Boy) Appears in Blackface [more ]
• Judge's costume sparks complaints, national debate [more ]
  
• On CNN Ellender explained the following to Wolf Blitzer about the incident, "My costume wasn't getting any laughs and everybody knew who I was - so somebody at the party said, hey, somebody else was dressed as Buckwheat so someone suggested I put some of this paint on my face and I did." [here ]
• Timothy Ellender is a registered Republican [more ]
• link to old post