A New York state judge who was caught on video threatening to shoot Black teenagers at a graduation party has decided to resign after a long struggle to keep her job. The decision comes after a judicial conduct panel recommended her removal from office due to her actions, which were seen as racially offensive and inappropriate.
The incident occurred in July 2022 at a party in upstate New York hosted by a friend of Oneida County State Supreme Court Justice Erin P. Gall. The party escalated into a brawl, prompting police officers to respond to the scene. During the altercation, Gall was seen confronting several Black teenagers who were at the party. In the bodycam footage, Gall can be heard making disparaging remarks about the teens, including questioning their intelligence and making offensive comments about their future.
At one point, Gall is seen loudly yelling at the teens to leave the property, saying, “You’re done. Done, done, done. Get off the property! And that’s from Judge Gall! I’m a f—ing judge!” She also told a sheriff’s deputy that if the teens returned to look for a lost car key, she would have them shot. The police officer challenged Gall’s statements, pointing out that she could not shoot someone simply for being on her property.
Following the incident, two complaints were filed against Gall. After reviewing the bodycam footage and other evidence, the state Commission on Judicial Conduct determined that Gall’s behavior was unacceptable. The panel noted that Gall had invoked her position as a judge while threatening violence, criticized the police, and acted in a manner that suggested racial bias.
In July, Gall was suspended without pay while the commission investigated the matter. Her case was set to be heard by the state’s Court of Appeals on January 9. However, Gall filed a motion last week, asking to withdraw her appeal and resign from her position.
In her resignation letter, she explained that the media attention surrounding the incident had led to numerous threats against her family, including death threats directed at her sons. She reported that these threats had caused her significant emotional distress, and she no longer wanted her family to face further harm due to the public attention.
Gall’s decision to step down comes after months of attempting to keep her job. The judicial conduct panel’s recommendation for her removal had been clear, and Gall’s resignation was seen as an acknowledgment that her conduct would likely lead to her permanent removal from the bench. The commission also stated that Gall would be permanently barred from seeking judicial office in the future.
Gall admitted that her behavior at the party had ethical lapses, but she claimed that it was caused by emotional distress stemming from an assault she experienced in college. She acknowledged that her comments about the Black teenagers may have appeared racially biased but argued that it was unfair to characterize her actions as racially motivated.
The four teenagers involved in the incident testified that they had attended the party after seeing it live-streamed online. When the party grew in size, a dispute escalated into a fight, and the police were called to break it up.
The teens stayed behind to search for a lost car key, which led to Gall’s threatening remarks. Despite her claims of emotional distress, Gall’s behavior was widely condemned as inappropriate and unprofessional, and her resignation marks the end of a long legal battle.
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Archer Bannister is a journalist with 4 years of experience covering hard-hitting stories. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Archer specializes in delivering timely and in-depth updates on a variety of topics, including crime news, politics, and national issues affecting the USA. His expertise and dedication to delivering accurate, impactful news make him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to stay informed on critical topics.
