*The following article contains discussion of sexual assault.
Mobile County Circuit Court judge James T. Patterson has been suspended by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission.
The state agency was charged with investigating a plethora of complaints about Patterson's conduct—including telling defendants they would be sexually assaulted in prison.
\u201cAn Alabama judge was suspended after he allegedly mocked an Asian accent in the courtroom and repeatedly belittled Gov. Kay Ivey, referring to her as \u201cGovernor MeMaw.\u201d \nhttps://t.co/PIZhdeMARM\u201d— NBC Asian America (@NBC Asian America) 1657561506
Patterson is also accused of mocking an Asian juror, referring to 77-year-old Alabama Governor Kay Ivey as "MeMaw" and frequent swearing in his courtroom.
The complaints against Patterson, a Republican who was appointed in 2016, span several years.
One complainant said Patterson's conduct "brought the judicial office into disrepute."
"Judge Patterson’s conduct has degraded the public’s confidence in the integrity, dignity, and decorum of the judiciary and brought the judicial office into disrepute."
\u201cAlabama Judge Suspended After Ethics Complaint Details Racist Mockery, Rape Jokes\n\nJudge James T. Patterson also allegedly referred to 77-year-old Gov. Kay Ivey as "MeMaw" and told defendants they would be sexually assaulted in prison.\n\nhttps://t.co/wQdjdztKkE\u201d— Roshan Rinaldi (@Roshan Rinaldi) 1657391794
In 2019, Patterson asked a jury pool that included an Asian American whether anybody spoke "Engrish" in a mocking fake "Asian" accent.
Patterson defended his racism as a "stupid, stupid joke."
\u201cA 'judge' who is supposed to administer justice to the masses tries to blame liberalism for his racist and ageist comments. \n\nMAN UP, judge James Patterson, and work on your brokenness.\n\nAlabama judge suspended after mocking Asian accent in the courtroom https://t.co/Ce5qt9HhuX\u201d— AJ E (@AJ E) 1657378660
\u201cAlabama judge suspended after mocking Asian accent in the courtroom https://t.co/TQkBd5prWW Imagine that. A GOP judge who is racist, sexist and stupid.\u201d— Bob W Garner-just bob-Spaceman Spiff (@Bob W Garner-just bob-Spaceman Spiff) 1657384718
In a Facebook post following the incident of racist mockery, Patterson blamed "liberals" for being called out on his inappropriate remark.
"The liberals call everyone they disagree with a racist nowadays. I am nothing of the kind."
As if the racism wasn't enough, Patterson also reportedly told defendants on multiple occasions they would be raped in prison, according to the complaint.
"When covering a docket for the presiding judge, Judge Patterson said more than once to defendants that they would be ‘butt raped in the penitentiary.'"
\u201cJudge James T. Patterson is the 'poster boy' for 'Juris Crudence'. #ImpeachJudgeJamesPatterson\u201d— Positively 4Th Street (@Positively 4Th Street) 1657399760
According to court staffers and his former court reporter, professional language and decorum were apparently outside Patterson’s ability while on the bench.
"In court, Judge Patterson has used the following words: 'f*ck,' 'sh*t,' 'bast*ard,' 'a*s,’ and 'a**hole. According to his former court reporter, Judge Patterson used the word ‘a*s’ all the time in court as if it was his favorite word."
According to the Associated Press, Patterson has not yet responded to the charges but, if convicted, he could be removed from office over his conduct.
He was charged with inappropriate demeanor and temperament and abuse of judicial authority.
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If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, help is out there. You can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 1-800-656-4673, use their Live Chat tool: https://www.rainn.org/get-help, or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
In Canada, help is available through the Ending Violence Association of Canada website.
International resources can be found through the Rape Crisis Network Europewebsite.
If you or someone you know has been sexually abused behind bars and would like support or information, you can find more info here: Just Detention International
