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Summary: After attacking a mentally disabled man at flea market, a Mississippi judge will be removed from the bench.
Mississippi’s highest court ruled that a state judge will be removed from the bench after attacking a mentally disabled man at a flea market. William Weisenberger Sr. was a judge from the Madison County Justice Court. Back in May 2014, he was at the Canton Flea Market when the incident occurred.
The Commission on Judicial Performance found that Weisenberger physically attacked a black man with disabilities. Weisenberger also directed racial slurs at the man, Eric Rivers. Weisenberger had been directing traffic at the fair and ejected Rivers from the fair for allegedly touching women inappropriately.
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The Commission alleges that Weisenberger slapped Rivers in the back of the head, called him a “n*****,” and told him to run away in a specific direction. Weisenberger took a leave of absence from the bench after the allegations arose and pleaded guilty to assaulting Rivers, receiving a six-month suspended sentence.
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It was also recommended that he be suspended from the bench for 180 days. Weisenberger objected to the recommendation since he had lost the election and would not be a judge starting in January 2016. In the end, the Commission found his actions so deplorable that only a removal from office would do plus a fine of $6,918.
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Weisenberger appealed but the Mississippi Supreme Court upheld the sanctions. The justices wrote, “Although Weisenberger was not a security officer and was not hired to conduct security, he purposefully and intentionally interfered in the situation with Rivers, using aggression and bigotry, and willingly chose not to wait for a hired security guard or law enforcement officer.”
Judges had been suspended even though they were no longer holding office in the past. They continued, “The evidence also showed that it was apparent that Rivers was mentally disabled as soon as he spoke, so Weisenberger most likely knew that Rivers was mentally disabled.” Justice Jess Dickinson gave a partial dissent.
Do you think judges think they are above the law? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about another judge that feels he is above the law, read Judge Takes Jury Selection into His Own Hands.
Photo: eurthisnthat.com
