Meet Curtissa Cofield. She is cited as Connecticut's first black female judge in this article from the Hartford Courant, although no other qualifications for the job are mentioned. If being a black female is in fact her only qualification for service as a judge, that might explain a lot about her behavior on October 9th of last year.
It all started with a traffic accident. Somehow her honor allegedly failed to notice a parked police cruiser in a construction zone, and sideswiped his vehicle. This caused damage to both vehicles as well as injury to the officer. If this is starting to sound like the kind of dangerous driving behavior that judges normally lecture defendants about from their lofty perches atop the bench, wait 'til you get a load of her subsequent misconduct.
According to the article, Judge Cofield then distinguished herself even further by acting like a drunken lout at the police station. For starters, she referred to African-American State Police Sgt. Dwight Washington as a "nigger", and started addressing him as "Mr. Negro Washington" and "negro trooper." All the while, Curtissa was complaining that she was being treated "like a negro from the hood." Hmm... I guess she must think that when white folks sideswipe a parked police car in a construction zone and then blow a 0.17% BAC, they just get a ride home and a pat on the back. Her comments make one wonder how she customarily treats a real "negro from the hood" in her courtroom.
Sgt. Washington should have known that he was dealing with a sharp minded lawyer/judge who would beat the rap. Judge Cofield even gave him clues as to her legal brilliance, stating "...it comes down to the bottom line, who's smarter — me or you? We'll figure it out, won't we?" Despite her claim of higher intelligence, she was stupid enough to provide a urine sample which revealed her to be way, way, way over the limit for DUI (most judges are smart enough to "just say no"). She then let him know that she had no fear of any legal repercussions, stating "...we'll see what they say in court, won't we, Mr. Washington?" Strangely enough, she was right! Judge William Bright Jr. of Manchester admitted Curtissa to an alcohol education program above the objection of the trooper whose vehicle she hit.
If she completes the program, the charges will be dismissed. According to news reports, Trooper Michael Kowal suffered neck and back injuries as a result of the accident. Judge Bright did not hear anything about her behavior at the station when he heard the case on November 24th. He only briefly referred to it in passing on December 8th when he accepted her application for the alcohol education program. Apparently, he wasn't interested in the details.
Huh, that's kinda funny. Judges usually want to hear all about the details when a defendant fails to act polite and cooperative during a traffic stop or arrest. It almost makes you wonder if this judge wasn't getting special treatment. Of course, her troubles aren't quite over yet. According to Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the Legislative Judicial Committee, Judge Cofield now faces a hearing before the Connecticut Judicial Review Council. She is currently facing five charges of violating the judicial canons of conduct.
Incredibly, these charges do not include making a false official statement to the police as part of their investigation. Judge Cofield apparently lied when she stated "I had no alcohol to drink, Mr. Washington." Gosh, that sure is strange. Because over three hours after the accident, Curtissa submitted a urine sample that was over twice the maximum legal limit for DUI. How did all that alcohol get into her bloodstream if she wasn't drinking? Was she partaking in alcohol enemas? Well, she did also state "I'm a crack addict", and who knows what these crackheads will do to get a buzz.
The bottom line: Judge Cofield blamed illness for her behavior - she stated that she was suffering from "negro-itis". This was after telling the Trooper "I'm humiliated by your fucking attitude." His attitude? Sounds her honor (or her dishonor) might need some time in prison to figure out why people are disgusted with the attitude of some judges who act as if they are above the law while constantly dumping on those who are unfortunate enough to appear before them.
From the videotape and behavior reported in the latest articles, it sounds like Curtissa Cofield might be a disgrace to the judiciary, a liar, a boorish lush, an unqualified race-baiting product of "reverse" discrimination, and a good example of why DUI laws are meant to fail. Feel free to write Rep. Lawler at MLawlor99@juno.com and share your opinion as to the appropriate sentence for Curtissa Cofield. You be the judge - because it sounds like she isn't fit for the job.
It all started with a traffic accident. Somehow her honor allegedly failed to notice a parked police cruiser in a construction zone, and sideswiped his vehicle. This caused damage to both vehicles as well as injury to the officer. If this is starting to sound like the kind of dangerous driving behavior that judges normally lecture defendants about from their lofty perches atop the bench, wait 'til you get a load of her subsequent misconduct.
According to the article, Judge Cofield then distinguished herself even further by acting like a drunken lout at the police station. For starters, she referred to African-American State Police Sgt. Dwight Washington as a "nigger", and started addressing him as "Mr. Negro Washington" and "negro trooper." All the while, Curtissa was complaining that she was being treated "like a negro from the hood." Hmm... I guess she must think that when white folks sideswipe a parked police car in a construction zone and then blow a 0.17% BAC, they just get a ride home and a pat on the back. Her comments make one wonder how she customarily treats a real "negro from the hood" in her courtroom.
Sgt. Washington should have known that he was dealing with a sharp minded lawyer/judge who would beat the rap. Judge Cofield even gave him clues as to her legal brilliance, stating "...it comes down to the bottom line, who's smarter — me or you? We'll figure it out, won't we?" Despite her claim of higher intelligence, she was stupid enough to provide a urine sample which revealed her to be way, way, way over the limit for DUI (most judges are smart enough to "just say no"). She then let him know that she had no fear of any legal repercussions, stating "...we'll see what they say in court, won't we, Mr. Washington?" Strangely enough, she was right! Judge William Bright Jr. of Manchester admitted Curtissa to an alcohol education program above the objection of the trooper whose vehicle she hit.
If she completes the program, the charges will be dismissed. According to news reports, Trooper Michael Kowal suffered neck and back injuries as a result of the accident. Judge Bright did not hear anything about her behavior at the station when he heard the case on November 24th. He only briefly referred to it in passing on December 8th when he accepted her application for the alcohol education program. Apparently, he wasn't interested in the details.
Huh, that's kinda funny. Judges usually want to hear all about the details when a defendant fails to act polite and cooperative during a traffic stop or arrest. It almost makes you wonder if this judge wasn't getting special treatment. Of course, her troubles aren't quite over yet. According to Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the Legislative Judicial Committee, Judge Cofield now faces a hearing before the Connecticut Judicial Review Council. She is currently facing five charges of violating the judicial canons of conduct.
Incredibly, these charges do not include making a false official statement to the police as part of their investigation. Judge Cofield apparently lied when she stated "I had no alcohol to drink, Mr. Washington." Gosh, that sure is strange. Because over three hours after the accident, Curtissa submitted a urine sample that was over twice the maximum legal limit for DUI. How did all that alcohol get into her bloodstream if she wasn't drinking? Was she partaking in alcohol enemas? Well, she did also state "I'm a crack addict", and who knows what these crackheads will do to get a buzz.
The bottom line: Judge Cofield blamed illness for her behavior - she stated that she was suffering from "negro-itis". This was after telling the Trooper "I'm humiliated by your fucking attitude." His attitude? Sounds her honor (or her dishonor) might need some time in prison to figure out why people are disgusted with the attitude of some judges who act as if they are above the law while constantly dumping on those who are unfortunate enough to appear before them.
From the videotape and behavior reported in the latest articles, it sounds like Curtissa Cofield might be a disgrace to the judiciary, a liar, a boorish lush, an unqualified race-baiting product of "reverse" discrimination, and a good example of why DUI laws are meant to fail. Feel free to write Rep. Lawler at MLawlor99@juno.com and share your opinion as to the appropriate sentence for Curtissa Cofield. You be the judge - because it sounds like she isn't fit for the job.
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