PA Black Lawmakers Want Judge's Alleged Racist Remarks Probed

HARRISBURG, PA - The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus is urging the Judicial Conduct Review Board to investigate an Allegheny County judge who allegedly called a black female juror "Aunt Jemima" and making other racially charged remarks about her.

Caucus members condemned the statements Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Tranquilli allegedly made during a conference in his chambers 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.

"When we hear allegations like this, it doesn’t just reflect poorly on one judge, or one courtroom, but on the entire justice system,” said state Rep. Ed Gainey, who represents the 24th Legislative District that includes East Liberty, Highland Park and Homewood.

“This is a great example as to why black and brown people have fear and reservations about our criminal justice system. How can people of color believe they will get a fair chance in court when we hear about an incident like this?"

Rep. Summer Lee, a civil rights and constitutional law attorney representing the 34th Legislative District that includes Churchill, Edgewood and Homestead, said the incident unveils the racial biases pervasive in Allegheny County’s riminal justice system.

"This incident shows that systemic bias goes beyond incarceration statistics but is sitting on the very bench that controls the courtroom," she said. "How can we have faith in a system that has no faith in us, or that is unwilling or unable to see beyond stereotypes to see us for who we are?"

State Rep. Austin Davis, who represents communities in the Mon Valley, said Tranquilli's remarks are alarming on multiple fronts.

"On one hand we have an individual tasked with upholding the law to the highest extent but who clearly harbors bias and judgment toward defendants before a verdict is even reached," he said. "On the other hand, we have a judge who harbors an even stronger bias toward people of color, both of which are a recipe for disaster and an injustice to our community."

Last week, county President Judge Kim Berkley Clark barred Tranquilli from hearing any cases and restricted him solely to administrative duties. The Allegheny County Bar Association also 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.