A New York judge who was caught on camera threatening to shoot four Black teens could face removal from the bench.
Erin P. Gall, a Republican judge from the State Supreme Court in Oneida County, went on an extended rant after a graduation party in July 2022. The diatribe was captured on police body camera footage released by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The commission ruled that Gall should be removed from her position as a judge, saying, “she engaged in a loud, public, prolonged and profanity-laced confrontation with responding police officers and others at the scene during which she repeatedly invoked her judicial office, made comments that cast doubt on her ability to be impartial as a judge."
The rant stemmed from an altercation between invited and uninvited guests at a party in New Hartford, N.Y., according to an agreed statement of facts released by the commission. The statement says Gall’s statements created the “appearance of racial bias.”
Gall attended the party with her husband and three children, having been invited. According to the statement of facts, the four Black teens arrived at the party after learning about it on a live video feed.
It is not clear if the teens were involved in the altercation, though Gall’s 18-year-old son was involved. The judge claims she saw her son get slapped in the head and that he was then attacked by unknown individuals.
In the footage captured by the bodycam, the teens are looking for lost car keys, while Gall can be heard yelling for them to leave and to take an Uber home.
"That’s how I roll. That’s how Mrs. -
G rolls. That’s how Judge Gall rolls. We’re clearing this place out," she says.
Gall called upon the responding officers to arrest the four teens, and mentioned more than once that she is a judge.
Referring to the Black teens, Gall said that they didn’t “look like they're that smart. They're not going to business school, that's for sure.”
She also threatened to shoot the teenagers, who were still trying to find their lost car keys.
“If they come back looking for it, I’ll call you while they’re on the property,” Gall said. “If they did, they’ll be arrested, or they’ll be shot on the property. Because when they trespass, you can shoot them on the property. I’ll shoot them on the property.”
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
When an officer responded to requests to arrest the teens by saying he could face a civil rights lawsuit if he arrested the teens without a good reason, Gall assured them they had her support, according to the statement of facts.
“Listen, but guess what, the good part is - the good part is I'm always on your side,” Gall said. “You know I'd take anyone down for you guys. You know that. You know that. You know I am on your side.”
CBS reported that Gall’s attorney said they will appeal the ruling. The New York State Court of Appeals will ultimately determine if Gall will be removed.
Related Articles
Follow Us