A New York judge who had been caught on camera threatening to shoot four Black teenagers could be removed from the bench.
Erin P. Gall, a Republican judge on the State Supreme Court in Oneida County, went on a long rant following a graduation party in July 2022. The rant was caught on police body camera footage provided by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The commission ruled that Gall should be removed from her position as a judge, stating that “she engaged in a loud, public, prolonged, and profanity-laced confrontation with responding police officers and others at the scene during which she repeatedly invoked her judicial office, made comments that cast doubt on her ability to be impartial as a judge.”
According to the commission’s agreed-upon summary of facts, the diatribe resulted from a disagreement between invited and unwanted attendees at a party in New Hartford, New York. According to the statement, Gall’s words led to the “appearance of racial bias.”
Gall attended the celebration with her husband and three children after being invited. According to the statement of facts, the four Black adolescents attended the party after learning about it via a live video broadcast.
It’s unclear whether the kids were involved in the brawl, but Gall’s 18-year-old son was. The judge alleges she witnessed her kid being slapped in the head and then attacked by unknown men.
In the bodycam film, the youths are looking for missing car keys, while Gall can be heard calling for them to go and take an Uber home.
“That’s how I roll.” That’s how Mrs. G rolls. That’s how Judge Gall rolls. “We’re cleaning this place out,” she says.
Gall urged the responding officers to arrest the four teenagers and repeatedly stated that she is a judge.
Gall stated that the Black kids did not “appear to be that smart.” They’re definitely not going to business school.”
She also threatened to shoot the teenagers who were still searching for their misplaced car keys.
“If they come back looking for it, I’ll call you while they’re on the property,” Gall told them. “If they did, they’d be arrested or shot on the property. Because if they transgress, you can shoot them on the premises. “I will shoot them on the property.”
When an officer reacted to calls to arrest the adolescents by stating that he may face a civil rights lawsuit if he arrested them without a good reason, Gall informed them that they had her backing, according to the statement of facts.
“Listen, but guess what, the good part is – the good part is I’m always on your side,” Mr. Gall replied. “You know I’d take down anyone for you.” You are aware of this. You are aware of this. “You know I’m on your side.”
According to PEOPLE, Gall’s attorney plans to appeal the ruling. The New York State Court of Appeals will finally decide whether Gall will be removed.