Claim: Judge Arrested for DUI Hurls Racial Epithets at Officers
The co-chair of the Connecticut legislature’s judiciary committee is seeking a full review of claims that a judge arrested on drunken driving charges hurled racial epithets and used her judicial status to intimidate officers.
Judge E. Curtissa R. Cofield, 59, who is black, is alleged to have referred to state police Sgt. Dwight Washington as “Negro Washington” during her Oct. 9 arrest—which was captured by police video recorders, the Hartford Courant reports.
“Assuming it’s true that she made those extremely racist comments, that can’t be tolerated—from a judge, of all people,” state Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, told the Courant.
The paper notes that details of the incident weren’t discussed at Cofield’s appearance Monday in superior court in Manchester. The presiding judge in her DUI case will decide in December whether Cofield can enroll in a pretrial alcohol-education program. The program, open to first-time offenders, makes it possible for successful graduates to have their records wiped clean.
The judge wants to hear from a state trooper who objected to Cofield’s inclusion in the pretrial program. There are allegations that Cofield’s BMW struck the trooper’s patrol car as she was driving on Oct. 9.
The Courant has filed a Freedom of Information request to view video of Cofield’s booking, which is reportedly when many of the statements were made.
