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A Pennsylvania judge has been accused of referring to a black juror as Aunt Jemima in a closed-door meeting, according to KDKA CBS Pittsburgh.
It’s been reported that career prosecutor and current Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Mark Tranquilli was re-assigned after the allegation against him was made two weeks ago. Assistant District Attorney Ted Dutkowski claimed that in a closed-door meeting between him, a defense attorney, and the judge, Tranquilli is quoted as calling a black woman juror “Aunt Jemima” and muses about her having a drug-dealing “baby daddy” at home. In his written statement, Dutkowski stated he was so sickened by the comments made by Tranquilli that he left the judge’s chambers and wrote a complaint detailing what was said.
The conversation took place at the conclusion of a drug case in which Dutkowski said Tranquilli admitted that he “was not happy” that the jury rendered a ‘not guilty’ verdict. In the judge’s chambers, Tranquilli questioned the assistant DA about why he had not moved to strike or block a black woman juror during the jury selection weeks prior. “You weren’t out of strikes when you decided to put Aunt Jemima on the jury,” is what Tranquilli allegedly said.
In the document, it is alleged that Tranquilli mocked the woman, who had her hair in a headdress, and said, “As soon as she sat down, she crossed her arms and looked like this.” Dutokwski claims the judge then crossed his arms and scowled, and continued: “You know darn well that when she goes home to her baby daddy, he’s probably slinging heroin too.”
According to the complaint, Dutkowski then spoke with Defense Attorney Joe Otte, who was also bothered by the comments and told Dutkowski he was considering some action on his part and said he would be careful about bringing African American defendants before Tranquilli.
Tranquilli is a graduate of Baldwin High School and Allegheny College and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He was elected to the Common Pleas bench in 2013.
A Pennsylvania judge has been accused of referring to a black juror as Aunt Jemima in a closed-door meeting, according to KDKA CBS Pittsburgh.
It’s been reported that career prosecutor and current Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Mark Tranquilli was re-assigned after the allegation against him was made two weeks ago. Assistant District Attorney Ted Dutkowski claimed that in a closed-door meeting between him, a defense attorney, and the judge, Tranquilli is quoted as calling a black woman juror “Aunt Jemima” and muses about her having a drug-dealing “baby daddy” at home. In his written statement, Dutkowski stated he was so sickened by the comments made by Tranquilli that he left the judge’s chambers and wrote a complaint detailing what was said.
The conversation took place at the conclusion of a drug case in which Dutkowski said Tranquilli admitted that he “was not happy” that the jury rendered a ‘not guilty’ verdict. In the judge’s chambers, Tranquilli questioned the assistant DA about why he had not moved to strike or block a black woman juror during the jury selection weeks prior. “You weren’t out of strikes when you decided to put Aunt Jemima on the jury,” is what Tranquilli allegedly said.
In the document, it is alleged that Tranquilli mocked the woman, who had her hair in a headdress, and said, “As soon as she sat down, she crossed her arms and looked like this.” Dutokwski claims the judge then crossed his arms and scowled, and continued: “You know darn well that when she goes home to her baby daddy, he’s probably slinging heroin too.”
According to the complaint, Dutkowski then spoke with Defense Attorney Joe Otte, who was also bothered by the comments and told Dutkowski he was considering some action on his part and said he would be careful about bringing African American defendants before Tranquilli.
Tranquilli is a graduate of Baldwin High School and Allegheny College and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He was elected to the Common Pleas bench in 2013.
ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood has been bringing Hollywood’s finest, most melanated queens, kings and every one in between together for 13 years. And each and every year, the event seems to outdo itself, which is no wonder why the 2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood awards luncheon owes us nothing.
This year’s host, Eve, ushered us through a star-studded, buzzy celebration—from paying tribute to The Bryant, Altobelli, Chester and Mauser families, who were affected by a fatal helicopter crash last month, to keeping the energy high in the room, celebrating the best in Black cinema.
But the stand-out moments were mostly embedded in the epic speeches by this year’s honorees—Niecy Nash, Lashana Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Janet Mock and the cast of Pose—as well as their celeb besties, who presented them.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) The OverExplainer’s Arm, Gina Torres, Robin Thede, Kerry Washington, and Billy Porter attend the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on February 06, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)Although each speech was revealing, heartfelt and hilarious, so much so that it felt like a Black Women Christmas, Matsoukas’ was most memorable. She took us all on a journey, sharing all of the reasons her incredible mother deserves praise. Matsoukas also revealed a little known tidbit—she was a production assistant on the set of Trina’s “Ass Too Fat” video back in 2000.
ESSENCE celebrated all Black women, and it’s why ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood was one of the most soul-filling events our OverExplainer has ever attended.
Get a peek inside the esteemed awards show by watching the OverExplainer Reacts video above.
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