Tennessee judge reprimanded for calling litigant 'tough guy,' allegedly mocking wife
A Tennessee judge is facing disciplinary action after he challenged a "tough guy" litigant in his courtroom, mocked the man's wife and told his daughter to "shut up." PHOTO: KATU
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A Tennessee judge is facing disciplinary action after he challenged a "tough guy" litigant in his courtroom, mocked the man's wife and told his daughter to "shut up."
The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct issued the public reprimand for Judge Casey Stokes who is a General Sessions Court Judge in Georgetown.
According to the reprimand, in October of last year, Judge Stokes allegedly called a litigant in his court a "tough guy" and said he hoped he would run into someone like him one day, adding, "if somebody called (your) grandfather a SOB we would be in more than a cuss fight, we would be in a fist fight, and probably to the death."
The litigant's complaint against Judge Stokes adds the judge "mocked his wife's physical disability" by impersonating her movements and told their daughter to "shut up" as she tried to explain her mom had a neurological disability.
The judge admitted to the statements made but stated it was in response to the litigant being rude during the hearing. However, the Board reprimand states his response was not permissible. The reprimand states "regardless of how rude or disrespectful a participant in a legal proceeding may be, the judge cannot reciprocate. To the contrary, the more tense or difficult the situation, the more important it is for the judge to remain dignified and composed."
As a result of their findings, the judge faced a public reprimand which was shared earlier this month.
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