Pittsburgh-area judge reassigned after allegedly calling juror ‘Aunt Jemima’

A judge in Pittsburgh has been temporarily taken off the bench after allegedly referring to a black female juror as “Aunt Jemima,” according to a news reports.

Judge Mark Tranquilli of Allegheny County Common Pleas was reassigned and placed on “administrative duties only, effective immediately,” according to an order by court President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, NBC News reported on Friday.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday the remark was made in January after a suspect had been acquitted on the charge of possession of drugs with intent to deliver.

The judge reportedly spoke with defense lawyer Joe Otte and Assistant District Attorney Ted Dutkowski after the trial in his chambers and accused the prosecutor of doing a poor job screening the jurors.

This discussion led to the judge saying that “Ted had made a terrible decision by allowing ‘Aunt Jemima’ on to the jury,” according to the complaint filed by Otte. “The juror … was a young black woman who had worn a hair wrap throughout the trial.”

“Aunt Jemima” is a character from late 19th-century minstrel shows, based on stereotypical images of female slaves. It comes with sexist and racist connotations, though it remains the name of a popular brand of pancake batter, syrup and other breakfast foods.

Allegheny County Bar Association President Lori McMaster said her organization stands behind any efforts to “eliminate implicit and explicit racial bias in our legal system,” and filed a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania seeking a complete investigation of the alleged comment.