Judge Accused Of Making Racist Remarks Asked To Resign

PITTSBURGH, PA - The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for the resignation of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Tranquilli, who is accused of making racist remarks about a juror.

Tranquilli allegedly repeatedly referred to a black female juror as "Aunt Jemima" in a conference in his chambers after a drug suspect recently was acquitted in a case in which he presided. He also allegedly said that the juror's "baby daddy" likely sells heroin and she probably had a bias in favor of heroin dealers.

Prosecutor Ted Dutkowski and defense attorney Joe Otte reportedly heard the remarks. Neither has commented publicly, although the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that Otte has filed a complaint with the state Judicial Conduct Board.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Christine Mohammed, the executive director of the group's Pittsburgh chapter, said in a statement that Tranquilli should resign "because his prejudicial remarks are antithetical to the role assigned to a judge and they threaten the constitutional rights of the people and the unbiased application of the law."

On Thursday, county President Judge Kim Berkley Clark barred Tranquilli from hearing any cases and restricted him solely to administrative duties. The Allegheny County Bar Association has demanded the state judicial conduct board investigate the allegations.

Tranquilli, a former county deputy district attorney, was elected judge in 2013. His term expires in 2023.