Opinion ID: 1817719
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Facts related to Recusal

Text: ¶ 8. On March 4, 2002, WLBT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi, aired a Three on Your Side investigative report, in which the reporter stated that Judge Tomie Green had accused the Jackson Police Department of racial profiling and harassment of her during a traffic stop. A transcript of the newscast reflects the following: Reporter: Here at home, a charge of racial profiling by white Jackson police officers. What makes it unusual is that the accuser is a Hinds County Circuit Court Judge. Judge Green: It's eroded my faith in public safety in Jackson and Hinds County. Reporter: Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green is angry ... and hurt over an incident she describes as racial profiling. According to Judge Green on Saturday, February 23rd around seven at night she was traveling on Hanging Moss Drive heading down-town when two officers in separate patrol cars put on their blue lights behind her. She says she pulled over to the right and stopped. Why was she pulled over? Judge Green: He just started to tell me I was driving in the wrong lane that I needed to go [to] the department of public safety and get a book and learn how to drive and be in the right lane. Reporter: But acting police chief Jim French says the officer tells a different story. Jim French: The car pulled out in front of him and nearly caused him to wreck Reporter: But the officer, who Chief French will not name, did not issue Judge Green a ticket. The Judge says the officer's manner was abusive. Judge Green: He just kind of harassed me in terms of the questioning. I said there's no such thing as the wrong lane and I was just driving. Reporter: Judge Green drives a 2001 Jaguar with a plate that reads lawkeeper. She says the fact that she's black and drives an expensive car caused the officers to stop her ... and nothing else. She asked to speak to the other officer on the scene, but says the first officer told her he had nothing to do with it. Then according to Judge Green she drove to precinct three about a mile away on Northside Drive to file a complaint. The precinct was closed. Chief French says he cannot say much about this incident because internal affairs is looking into it. However ... French: This Department specifically prohibits stops for racial profiling, sexual profiling. Reporter: He says it may take a couple of weeks for internal affairs to finish its report. We'll keep you posted ... ¶ 9. Subsequently, Dillard's filed the motion to recuse requesting that Judge Green recuse herself, averring that this incident created a conflict for her to preside in the cases sub judice.