Judge Marvin Arrington of Georgia Makes Bold Courtroom Move
March 31, 2008In an effort to talk straight to a group of black thugs and thug wanna-bes, an Atlanta judge ordered all white lawyers out of his courtroom so that he could talk straight to the defendants. I actually don’t see anything wrong with what he did. Check it out and tell me what you think:
The Fulton County Superior Court judge said he was just fed up seeing a parade of young black defendants in his courtroom.
“I came out and saw the defendants, about 99.9 percent Afro-Americans, and some point time I excused some of the lawyers, most of them white, and said to the young people in here ‘What in the world are you doing with your lives,’” he told WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter JaQuitta Williams.
Arrington said he thought his message might have more power if it was delivered to a blacks-only audience.
I understand what Judge Arrington was trying to do. I just hope that it registered with the listening audience of hoodlums who are going astray:
The judge said the majority of people who appear before him accused of crimes such as murder, rape and robbery are black and he wanted to do something about it, one on one.
“I didn’t want them to think I was talking down to them; trying to embarrass them or insult them; be derogatory towards them and I was just saying ‘Please get yourself together,’” he said.
Arrington added that he may make a similar speech next week, but this time he’ll allow everyone to hear it.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:56 pm
What a wonderful gesture on Judge Arrington’s part. I am glad that he acknowledged the huge disparity in the racial make-up of the defendants appearing before him. As an African American, I am sure it gets to be frustrating and disheartening to see this day in and day out. Even if it doesn’t make a difference (and it probably won’t), he did his part by trying to appeal to these men on a personal level. It is gestures like these that exemplify people allowing God to use them to try to make a difference with their fellow man.
April 1st, 2008 at 7:52 am
Hi Lynn. I pray all is well with you. Thanks for sharing this story. I came in on the tail end of it as it was on the news the other day and I missed the details.
I went to a maximum security prison with my church leadership just last Saturday. After the word was preached, many of the men came to the altar to give their lives to Jesus. It was an awesome experience but yet sad. To see so many men in that prison with all that potential.
I hope Judge Arrington’s words had an impact on the hearts of those that heard him. Sometimes, all people need to see is that someone cares about them and that they can do better.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:20 am
What a courageous judge. I just hope that people don’t try to get him removed because of this. As for the young men he spoke to, heck someone needed to tell them. Hopefully it will open their eyes and help foster some change within them.