According to this article, allegedly sauce-saturated Judge Curtissa Cofield spewed racist belligerence at police in Connecticut upon being arrested for DUI, but she walked away with a mere 8-month suspension issued by the Connecticut Judicial Review Committee (JRC). This is quite a break, considering her BAC was more than twice the legal limit, not to mention that she allegedly verbally harassed the officers who apprehended her and threatened their careers.
Incredibly, the JRC seemed to overlook the fact that she had claimed not to have been drinking any alcohol at the police station, then testified under oath that she had consumed only two drinks (this before blowing a 0.17% BAC), and then retreated from that claim stating that she didn’t “have an accurate recollection.” It is insulting to lie to someone’s face, and Judge Cofield seems to be all over the map as far as how much she had to drink that night. What value do we place on truthfulness among the members of the judiciary?
During her 8-month suspension, Judge Cofield will have ample time to ponder the reasons why she was cut such a break. A lot of people believe that any individual other than an African-American judge would have been convicted of DUI, served five days in jail, and would have been treated much less respectfully and courteously than Judge Cofield. A white judge never would have gotten away with the racially-disparaging comments Cofield made. The result certainly would have been removal from the bench and possibly disbarment. Most individuals other than judges, however, don’t realize the basic fact underlying this case: DUI cases can be won, especially by those with connections or the funds to mount a full and effective defense.
Incredibly, the JRC seemed to overlook the fact that she had claimed not to have been drinking any alcohol at the police station, then testified under oath that she had consumed only two drinks (this before blowing a 0.17% BAC), and then retreated from that claim stating that she didn’t “have an accurate recollection.” It is insulting to lie to someone’s face, and Judge Cofield seems to be all over the map as far as how much she had to drink that night. What value do we place on truthfulness among the members of the judiciary?
During her 8-month suspension, Judge Cofield will have ample time to ponder the reasons why she was cut such a break. A lot of people believe that any individual other than an African-American judge would have been convicted of DUI, served five days in jail, and would have been treated much less respectfully and courteously than Judge Cofield. A white judge never would have gotten away with the racially-disparaging comments Cofield made. The result certainly would have been removal from the bench and possibly disbarment. Most individuals other than judges, however, don’t realize the basic fact underlying this case: DUI cases can be won, especially by those with connections or the funds to mount a full and effective defense.
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