For purposes of discussion, here is the cited Facebook Post:
I was on my morning walk when I was detained by police. There were two police cars and a motorcycle cop. They approached me on South Court street and ask me if I just came from South Perry street. I told them no. The officer then said that they had received a call that someone fitting my description was walking with a crowbar. I told the officer that the thing in my hand was clearly not a crowbar and walking with a crowbar is not illegal. The officer said no it isn't, but when they get these type calls they have to check things out. I soon told them that I was a Circuit Judge and showed them my badge identifying me as such. Throughout the ordeal the officers were courteous; however, it was aggravating to be detained when the only thing I was guilty of was being a black man walking down the street in his neighborhood with a stick in his hand who just happened to be a Montgomery County Circuit Judge in Montgomery, Alabama. Lord Have Mercy!!!!!!"
Judge's social media post prompts motion for recusal in Gunn murder trial
There is also a picture too small to make out what he is holding, but from a casual observer in a car or on a motorcycle it could look like a crowbar.
So, he is stopped by at least 3 police (assuming one per car plus the motorcycle officer), and expresses concern about the
ordeal of being stopped for no good reason (not a "crowbar" and carrying one is not illegal, right?) other than being a Black man who happens to be a Judge (as if that matters) walking down his own neighborhood street with a stick in his hand. "Lord Have Mercy!!!!!!"
From a quick assessment it seems he is complaining about an excessive number of police involved in
stopping an innocent Black man in his own neighborhood just for being Black...
Lord
Have
Mercy.
Anyone who has worked in the criminal justice system has heard this complaint a thousand times.
Here's the problem. Attorneys for both the Prosecution and Defense deal with a specific group of judges on a regular basis. Over time, we learn the prejudices, preferences, and foibles of each one while they are on the bench. You learn to pray to get certain judges and hope to hell not to get certain other judges.
One thing you can't claim simply on the basis of their courtroom behavior (unless it is especially open and egregious) is prejudice, even thought you KNOW from courtroom experience that they may well be. That's because once in their courtroom the presumption is they are fair and balanced. However, when you get evidence of possible bias made public like this Facebook post, the defense can and will use it in a murder trial to seek a new judge. That's just the way it is.
My original point stands. "Lord Have Mercy!!!!!! There is the possibility based on his Facebook post of a bias against this police force which may be reflected in his rulings and if I were the defense attorney I might push for recusal too.