Texas Judge Sparks Protest (Press, 22 December 1988)
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Summary: Texas Judge Sparks Protest (Press, 22 December 1988)
In December 1988, a significant controversy erupted in Dallas following comments made by State District Judge Jack Hampton regarding a murder case involving two homosexual victims. Judge Hampton openly admitted during an interview with the "Dallas Times Herald" that he had imposed a lenient sentence on the convicted killer, Richard Lee Bednarski, because of the sexual orientation of the victims. Hampton sentenced Bednarski, who at 18 was found guilty of murdering the two men in a Dallas park, to 30 years in prison instead of the maximum life sentence. This decision was met with widespread outrage from various groups in Dallas and Austin, particularly from homosexual and women's organisations, who collectively called for the judge's resignation. Hampton's remarks reportedly included a derogatory characterization of both homosexuals and sex workers, asserting that the victims had contributed to their fate by "cruising the street picking up teenage boys." He expressed his disdain for homosexuals, stating he held them in similar regard as prostitutes and claimed he would struggle to justify a life sentence for killing a prostitute. His comments further instigated indignation among black and Hispanic community organisations, who felt that the judge’s ruling reflected deeper prejudices and bias against marginalized groups. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, a black Democrat, controversially likened Judge Hampton to the Ku Klux Klan, suggesting that both exhibited discriminatory beliefs. Despite the backlash and calls for his resignation, Judge Hampton remained defiant, indicating he had no intention of stepping down. He appeared indifferent to the controversy, reportedly saying that he did not mind as long as his name was correctly spelled in the media coverage, and predicted that the outrage would soon be forgotten by 1990. The case highlighted ongoing issues of discrimination and bias within the legal system, particularly towards the LGBTQ+ community, and intensified discussions about the relationship between sexual orientation and judicial sentencing practices.
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