A New York Supreme Court Justice is facing potential removal due to “racially offensive” conduct at a high school graduation party two summers ago.
Judge Erin Gall was involved in a heated verbal confrontation with four uninvited black teenagers and responding police officers at the party, with the incident captured on police bodycam footage.
The party had spiraled out of control as uninvited individuals arrived, leading to fights where Gall’s husband and son were injured.
The four teenagers claimed they couldn’t leave because they had lost their car keys during the chaos.
Despite officers assisting in the search for the keys, Gall insisted that the teens be arrested for trespassing, and the property owner also encouraged police to take action.
During the altercation, Gall made several remarks considered inappropriate for a judge, including boasting about her son’s actions and leveraging her judicial status.
She even threatened to involve the chief of police if the teens were not removed from the premises.
“You’re done. Done, done, done. Get off the property! And’s that’s from Judge Gall! I’m a (expletive) judge! And I’m telling you! Get off the (expletive) property!”
Gall was found to display signs of racial bias, commenting that the teenagers did not appear “smart” and were unlikely to attend business school.
When officers expressed concern about potentially violating the civil rights of the black teenagers, the judge reassured them by saying, “you know I’m always on your side.”
Additionally, an officer resisted when Gall implied that she would use force against the teenagers if they returned to search for their car keys.
“You can’t shoot somebody for simply going on your property…Do you hear what you’re saying? You’re all white, privileged people with high-power jobs.”
Subsequently, Gall conveyed regret for her actions and attributed them to an emotional response to an attack on her husband and son.
The state Commission on Judicial Conduct placed Gall on suspension with pay and proposed her removal to the Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York.
“Impropriety permeated respondent’s conduct on July 2, 2022….Her wide array of misconduct severely undermined public confidence in the judiciary and in her ability to serve as a fair and impartial judge,” the commission found.
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