A New York disciplinary panel suspended a state Supreme Court judge who threatened to shoot Black teens at a house party.
The state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended Justice Erin P. Gall of State Supreme Court in Oneida County, for acting in a “racially offensive, profane” manner.
The incident occurred during a high school graduation party at a friend’s house in July 2022. Judge Gall, her husband and their three teenage children were guests at a friend’s home in New Hartford, N.Y.
A group of Black teenagers received a text message invite with the address to the graduation party.
The teens were involved in a brawl with invited guests soon after they arrived.
Police officers attempted to restore order, but Judge Gall threatened to shoot the teens on police body cam footage.
“I’ll shoot them on the property,” she said. “No you can’t,” someone responded.
However, Judge Gall continued: “When they trespass, you can shoot them on a property.”
During the scuffle, the teens lost their car keys and couldn’t leave the neighborhood. Judge Gall threatened to flush the car keys down a toilet if she found them.
She also said the Black teens didn’t look very smart. And she praised her teenage son for “putting the smack down” on the teenagers.
“I’m a Supreme Court judge,” she told one officer. “I’m always on your side. You know I’ll take anyone down for you guys.”
NYS Commission administrator and counsel Robert H. Tembeckjian told CBS6: “It is utterly unacceptable for a judge to threaten gun violence, exhibit racial prejudice, promise favorable treatment for the police, or disparage a law intended to keep guns away from dangerous people.”
The commission suspended the judge with pay until the state’s Court of Appeals decides the case.
Judge Gall, who earns $232,000 a year, has 30 days to appeal.
Rap mogul 50 Cent re-posted news coverage about the incident on his Instagram page.
