Judge Tells Criminal That He’ll Be Sexually Assaulted In Prison During Arraignment

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A Washington state judge was reprimanded for telling a serial criminal that he’ll be sent to prison and raped if he didn’t change his behavior.

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Last August, Judge Virginia Amato told an unnamed domestic abuse suspect that he was on the path to becoming “Bubba’s new best girlfriend in the state penitentiary.’ In the complaint, it states she made the comments during his arraignment for a suspected misdemeanor violence incident.

‘That may hopefully give you a graphic image to think about… And if you think I’m kidding, I’m not. The folks at the penitentiary have mothers and sisters and nieces and cousins that they do not want someone out there abusing. And they will take that out on you, at the penitentiary. So think about that because you’re racking up felonies at this point.’

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There were no further details about the suspect’s criminal past and the outcome of his case is currently unclear. The criminal complaint was filed with the Washington Commission on Judicial Conduct in October and she received the complaint in December she claims she made the comment because she wanted the defendant to change his behavior.

‘While insensitive and thoughtless, were not motivated by bias or ill-will toward the defendant,’

According to the Daily Mail, the Conduct Commission ruled Amato violated the state requirement for judges where they have to maintain ‘integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.’ Amato received an official admonishment from the commission.

‘The words and images chosen were improper, discourteous and unbecoming a judicial officer,’ the commission wrote in the admonishment order, ‘They were degrading to the defendant and other incarcerated people, playing on stereotypes and exploiting fears of the criminal justice system.’

Amato also sought counsel from her colleagues and agreed to participate in a one-hour ethics training about courtroom behavior and decorum. She served the King County District in November 2018  and was assigned to the Maleng Regional Justice Center. She oversees small claims pre-trials, protection orders, Domestic Violence Court, and criminal calendars.

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