Judge tests limits of free speech with Facebook jury remarksBy Bruce Schreiner, Associated PressLOUISVILLE, Kentucky — A Louisville judge who railed against a prosecutor in provocative, racially charged posts on Facebook will soon face a disciplinary hearing that could end his judicial career. Experts say his cause was worthy: Stevens shined a light on a racial imbalance that has dogged the criminal justice system for generations. Judge Olu Stevens, who is black, is facing misconduct charges for suggesting that the white prosecutor was nefariously seeking to seat all-white juries. But his personal attack on a prosecutor for requesting an appellate opinion could cross an ethical line and threaten to overshadow the issue he attempted to highlight. Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine had asked the Supreme Court for a legal opinion on whether Stevens had the authority to dismiss a randomly selected jury panel because it lacked minorities, prompting Stevens to launch the attack.

Source: Manila Bulletin August 06, 2016 13:18 UTC