RECORDED AT STATION

[Chicopee John]

IMHO, a white person who did something similar would be tarred and feathered on national TV. As it is, this paper won't even acknowledge this happened. Thankfully one of their columnists decided to make this (more) public.

 

 

 

 

 

RECORDED AT STATION

No Excusing Judge's Racist Tirade

 

Kevin Rennie | NOW YOU KNOW November 23, 2008

 

Superior Court Judge E. Curtissa R. Cofield's arrest on suspicion of drunken driving saddened the legal community. Lawyers who have appeared before her could expect her to reach and deliver persuasive decisions that left all parties feeling they had been treated fairly. So surprise has soured into shock as the carefully guarded story of the racist tirade Judge Cofield unleashed at police during her arrest has become known to a handful of insiders.

 

A former prosecutor, Judge Cofield was arrested on Oct. 9 when the BMW she was driving on Route 2 in Glastonbury struck a state police cruiser on the shoulder of the highway. Police took Judge Cofield to the nearby Glastonbury police station to administer the tests usually given to drivers suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

 

The Glastonbury station, like most modern stations, is equipped with video and audio recording devices that preserve the interaction between police and citizens. It is for everyone's protection that an unblinking record be made of what happens in the police station.

 

The police have declined to release the recording of the ordeal Judge Cofield inflicted on law enforcement officers that unhappy night. Judge Cofield has applied for admission to the Alcohol Education Program, which is available to first-time offenders under most circumstances, so her court file is sealed.

 

Kevin Rennie Kevin Rennie Bio | E-mail | Recent columns

 

Judge Cofield was a difficult arrest even for police officers who are accustomed to handling people who are drunk. The stark, unfamiliar surroundings of a police station subdue most suspects who've been taken from their car to the booking room. But Judge Cofield was angry, not somber. Her anger, according to people familiar with that harrowing night in Glastonbury, came spewing out in a torrent of vituperation that left no one who was in the room or who has seen the recording unaffected.

 

One of alcohol's most pernicious effects is how it shreds our internal filters. Maybe that's why Judge Cofield, an African American, repeatedly taunted a decorated state police sergeant, calling him "N*****" and "Negro Washington." Judge Cofield attempted to intimidate, demean and humiliate others in the room.

 

Whatever dwelled in her that alcohol, or getting caught, ignited cannot be ignored. Trooper Michael Kowal was injured when Judge Cofield struck his cruiser. He also felt her vicious lash that night. He plans to object to Judge Cofield's application for the Alcohol Education Program.

 

A judge is no ordinary suspect, even for the most experienced police officer. Judges, of course, are unaccustomed to being told what to do by the police. Judges hold a singular position of authority that conveys upon them respect, deference and distance accorded to no other class of public officials.

 

The judges recognize their elevated position in our democratic society by imposing canons of conduct on themselves. Canon 2 of their code states, "A judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all the judge's activities." That firm directive is accompanied by a commentary that says, "The judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny. The judge must therefore accept restrictions on his or her conduct that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly."

 

Respect for the judiciary and the rule of law is one of our essential common bonds. The approach of a judge is announced in the courtroom. We stand when the judge enters. We employ unique language when addressing them. We accept a disappointing decision with courtesy. Judge Cofield forfeited her right to wield the unique authority of a judge not because she drove drunk, but because she refused to treat others who suddenly possessed direct authority over her with a modicum of the respect her high office allows her to command.

 

The judge who presides over her case at the court appearance scheduled for Monday should view the recording. The prosecutor should describe it. Judge Cofield should explain it. The Judicial Review Council should act. The rest of us can only shudder and wonder.

[calfoxwc]

Pitiful, using one's race as an intimidation weapon, and at the same time, an excuse and attempted "get out of jail free" card.

 

Pitiful.

[Mr. T]

no matter what color your skin is no man or woman is above the law, this is a worst case senario of abuse of power. She should be relieved of her duties as a judge immediatly.

 

Just imagine, if this was Obama and you mentioned this. you might of been called trailer trash, a vampire and every name in the book. and then they would say, hey he's not a vampire or alien stop this talk immediatly. wah waahh wwahh. and so on.

 

Nice job John that is an interesting story, can she be impeached?

[Chicopee John]

Nice job John that is an interesting story, can she be impeached?

 

 

UPDATE

 

November 25, 2008

 

CONDUCT QUESTIONED

 

Probe Sought Against Judge Who Allegedly Used Racial Epithet

 

By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY | The Hartford Courant November 25, 2008

 

 

The co-chairman of the state legislature's judiciary committee wants a full review of allegations that a judge charged with drunken driving last month angrily hurled epithets at police officers during her arrest, called a black state police sergeant N***** and told officers she was a state judge.

 

Judge E. Curtissa R. Cofield, 59, who is black, also referred to state police Sgt. Dwight Washington as "Negro Washington" during her Oct. 9 arrest — which was captured by police video recorders — Courant columnist Kevin Rennie, a lawyer and former state legislator, wrote in his column in Sunday's Courant.

 

"Assuming it's true that she made those extremely racist comments, that can't be tolerated — from a judge, of all people," state Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, said Monday.

 

Nothing was said of Cofield's alleged conduct during her appearance Monday in Superior Court in Manchester, where Judge William Bright Jr. delayed a decision on her application to a pretrial alcohol-education program until Dec. 8. Those who are admitted to and successfully complete the program, open only to first-time offenders, will have their record of arrest wiped clean.

 

 

Judge E. Curtissa R. Cofield Bright said he wanted to give the prosecutor a chance to talk to Trooper Michael Kowal, whose patrol car Cofield reportedly struck as she drove her BMW east on Route 2 about 10:50 p.m. on Oct. 9. Bright said he received an objection to Cofield's application from Kowal.

 

State police initially reported that Kowal was not injured, but he is seeing a doctor as a result of the crash, said Lt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman. Vance wouldn't comment on the allegations that Cofield made racist comments. Cofield, her attorney, James Sulick, and the prosecutor handling the case, John Whalen of the chief state's attorney's office, also declined to comment.

 

Bright said he has received letters of support for Cofield — about 40, according to Cofield's lawyer — and then heard glowing statements from a prominent defense attorney and a clergyman in favor of approving Cofield's application.

 

"Despite all the letters, I don't believe she should be treated differently in this situation because she is a judge, whether it's positive or negative," Bright said.

 

Lawlor said Bright should see the video of Cofield's arrest. "At minimum, I would certainly expect that under the circumstances the judge would review the videotape before deciding whether Judge Cofield should be admitted to the program," Lawlor said.

 

It's appropriate, Lawlor said, for the judge to consider an applicant's demeanor during arrest and the injuries anyone suffered. "In this particular case, the comments are troubling," he said. "Beneath the surface there's more to the story than just someone who had too much to drink."

 

Lawlor said he is exploring whether his committee, which oversees the judicial branch and has the power to impeach a judge, will be able to view the videotape.

 

"Our first preference would be to have the judicial branch do the oversight," Lawlor said. "We have been in communication with them to see what, if anything, will happen. We have received assurances there will be some type of action taken at some point. Obviously, it's still a pending case in court. We want to know the whole story."

 

The state Judicial Review Council should also open an investigation, if it hasn't already, Lawlor said.

 

The executive director and the chairman of the council said Monday that they cannot say whether an investigation of Cofield has begun. Such investigations remain secret unless the commission finds sufficient reason to air them publicly.

 

According to a state police incident report, Cofield drove her 2003 BMW X5 into Kowal's state cruiser, which was parked in the right shoulder protecting a construction zone. Cofield was taken to the Glastonbury police station for processing and was charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive in the proper lane. Her comments were captured on a video and audio monitoring system at the Glastonbury police station.

 

The Courant filed a Freedom of Information request with Glastonbury police for a copy of the video of Cofield's booking. Glastonbury Police Chief Thomas J. Sweeney denied the request, and the newspaper is appealing to the state FOI Commission.

 

 

[calfoxwc]

Do I understand this correctly? The dwI judge is black, and the officer is black, she ran into his car, he had to arrest her, bring her in, and she

pulls out the race card in anger?

 

I would imagine she will be very carefully treated as any other person would be, from any walk of life, and she would go into the same dwi program.

Justice for -all-.

 

But with the statements she reportedly made, I suppose she will also be evaluated by a psychologist before they determine impeachment.

It's a sad situation all around. Her family must be devastated. Christmas in the program... she'll regret drinking in a big way. Very sad.