Judge Harvey Giss Admonished For Ku Klux Klan Comment

LOS ANGELES -- A Superior Court judge in Los Angeles has been admonished for a comment referring to the Ku Klux Klan in a case involving two African-American defendants.

The California Commission on Judicial Performance admonished Judge Harvey Giss on Wednesday for saying the only way he could convince the defendants to plead guilty would be to come out in a white sheet with a pointy hat.

When the defense protested and requested his removal from the case, the judge conceded it was a bad statement but also remarked that people don't have a sense of humor anymore.

The commission said the comments by the judge were inappropriate and offensive and issued the public admonishment as punishment for violating the Code of Judicial Ethics.

A call to the judge was not immediately returned.

Comments

[Lou Pucci]

03:49 AM on 03/18/2011

this man was drunk.

[LMPE]

02:41 AM on 03/18/2011

KKK comments are supposed to be limited to the likes of Haley Barbour

[yuckyor76]

04:54 PM on 03/17/2011

Aside from never making it as a comedian I think this judge really compromised this case. Even though he recused himself from the case I can't help but think he's tainted the jury's opinion.

[yuckyor76]

04:47 PM on 03/17/2011

I didn't like this judge's excuse that people don't have a sense of humor anymore such bunk! Cry me a river you're a JUDGE! Keep your racist humor at home where it belongs.

[Js420]

03:37 PM on 03/17/2011

Now he could fulfill his real life long dream

[PrinceO]

12:56 PM on 03/17/2011

some of my best friends are KKK, look we all hate something for some people its Black people.

[Js420]

03:38 PM on 03/17/2011

huh?

[PrinceO]

04:00 PM on 03/17/2011

look we all have something that we dont like. For some people its President Bush, for others its late penalties at the Redbox movie rentals, and for a select few americans it just so happeneds to be Black people. does that clear it up for you.

[Spank05]

12:25 PM on 03/17/2011

His comment implies that it was at one time appropriate for judges to make KKK jokes.

Awesome.

[leorangerie]

12:20 PM on 03/17/2011

This judge says, 'people don't have a sense of humor anymore'. I think that starts with him. What a dolt. Really. That kind of 'judgement' gives one pause when thinking that this clown is on the bench, and thinks he's funny. Save it for the Elks Club cigar night.

[jmdziuban1]

05:47 AM on 03/17/2011

I did not know it was the role of a judge, to convince defendants to plead guilty.

[yuckyor76]

04:50 PM on 03/17/2011

When I was reading the article that same thought went through my mind I thought judges just listened to the lawyers make a case for a plea bargain. I didn't know they were active participants.

[jmdziuban1]

05:36 PM on 03/17/2011

Even if he truly believed they were turning down the best possible offer, I do not believe it his role to try to convince them to do otherwise. That would be the role of their defense counsel. I can understand if he attempted to explain to them possible negative repercussions of their decision, but if they decline to accept it, that is the end of the story.

In my understanding of such matters.

[blknightowl]

05:34 AM on 03/17/2011

No sense of humor?

Why, did he say it very professionally?

[jmdziuban1]

05:49 AM on 03/17/2011

He said it holding a cigar and wearing Groucho glasses, he simply is not a funny man.

[jonmayer18]

03:43 AM on 03/17/2011

Was the defendant white or black?

[Abena in Africa]

04:29 AM on 03/17/2011

Black. It's in the article.

[So Over It]

02:31 AM on 03/17/2011

Admonished?????!!! That's equivalent to a wag of the finger. He still got his paycheck, and was able to go back to work. Gotta love the justice system. He should have lost his job - anyone else in the working world would've lost theirs, and many don't hold others' lives in the balance to that extent.

The defendants deserve a new trial, and I'd be interested to know what legal remedy was offered to them.

[dporterdvd]

01:28 AM on 03/17/2011

The judge remarked, "People don't have a sense of humor anymore."

Actually, the people do. It's obviously the judge who doesn't.

[blknightowl]

05:37 AM on 03/17/2011

Seems to be happening a lot. People in professions that aren't funny feel an overwhelming obligation to play Richard Pryor.

[jmdziuban1]

05:52 AM on 03/17/2011

Most people also have a sense of taste, decorum, historical comprehension, and a smattering of sensitivity.

[happylonersarah]

12:09 AM on 03/17/2011

And he still has a job?

[Tom Joad]

10:48 PM on 03/16/2011

Dear JudgeEnemyOfThePeople:

Our judicial tradition assumes the accused are innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. I'm certain you learned that in law school somewhere...

[jmdziuban1]

05:55 AM on 03/17/2011

Exactly, how and when did he decide it became his job to convince defendants to plead guilty, or innocent. It is not his role in the proceedings.