Federal judge ordered into psychiatric testing after racial rant accusing lawyer of being white

A Texas judge has been ordered to undergo psychiatric testing after a bar complaint was lodged against her for a rant she made earlier this year against an Hispanic attorney whom she claimed was trying to act as a "white savior." 

U.S. District Judge Ada Brown, who is black and Native American, was temporarily removed from her docket by the Fifth Circuit Judicial Council earlier this month, after attorney Ezra Young filed a judicial complaint against her in May.

Brown claimed in the April spiel that Young, who is Hispanic, was "white passing," and a "white savior," who was there to rescue all the "stupid black lawyers in Texas, who need your help from New York," according to Fox News.

The comments occurred during a show-case hearing, in which Young was facing sanctions over allegations from Brown that he shared sealed court filings online. Young was representing a black law professor who sued Southern Methodist University, alleging she was denied tenure because of discrimination.

"You’re the white savior, come to save all the stupid black lawyers in Texas who need your help from New York," Brown said. "I think what’s happening here, quite candidly, is you are very intimidated for some reason, Mr. Young, with black excellence, in light of your white mediocrity. Yeah. Right? You should write that down ... you look like a white man, right?"

Brown has since said that she stands by her comments, stating she does not believe they were "inappropriate," but said she has learned lessons from the interaction.

"I ask the Chief Judge to weigh this candor, as well as my commitment to being mentored by senior judges with more experience in such situations when determining an appropriate disposition," Brown wrote in July. "I realize the importance of public confidence in the judiciary and take to heart my role in fostering the public’s faith in it."

Young has accused Brown of suffering from a mental condition, which launched an investigation this month. Brown is now required to undergo a psychiatric examination as part of that investigation. She has denied having a mental health issue.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.