A Judge Pulled a Gun in the Courtroom--and Then It Got Weird

[Nevilledog]

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Tweet text:


Jose Pagliery
@Jose_Pagliery
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In March, a West Virginia judge was really irritated at the corporate lawyers in his courtroom.

He pulled out his gun, laid it on the bench, and pointed the barrel at one of the lawyers.

Here's my exclusive investigation on @thedailybeast:

thedailybeast.com
A Judge Pulled a Gun in the Courtroom—and Then It Got Weird
“The whole trial was insane,” said one lawyer, who later reported the weapon-wielding jurist to the FBI.
11:45 AM · Jul 15, 2022

https://www.thedailybeast.com/west-virginia-judge-circuit-judge-david-w-hummel-jr-pulled-a-gun-in-the-courtroom-and-then-it-got-weird?ref=author

No paywall
https://archive.ph/Q59Bp

During a trial in West Virginia earlier this year, witnesses tell The Daily Beast, a state court judge whipped out his handgun, waved it in the air, and left it on the bench with the barrel pointing directly at the corporate lawyers who had irritated him.

Circuit Judge David W. Hummel Jr., who oversees cases in the tiny city of New Martinsville, repeatedly told The Daily Beast it never happened. When reached by phone in March, he initially professed shock at the allegations. On subsequent phone calls, however, his story kept changing as he claimed to recall more details about the incident.

“I did not have my 1911 at any point during that trial,” he said then, referring to a common type of semi-automatic pistol. “It was secreted in a drawer on the bench. I never showed my 1911 at the trial whatsoever—at any point during that trial.”

That judge is now under investigation by the state’s judiciary for violating the profession’s code of conduct, according to three witnesses now sharing information with law enforcement and official communications about the investigation reviewed by The Daily Beast. The judge’s own staff has since told an investigator that the judge did, in fact, display his gun openly during an attorneys-only hearing and boasted about having it in his possession, according to two of those witnesses.

*snip*

[Aristus]

1. West Virginia, amirite?

Judge Snuffy Smith better hope he gets visitation rights with his wife/sister/mother/cousin...

[MiniMe]

2. West Virginia, Texas or Florida

Knew it had to be one of those

[msfiddlestix]

3. Sounds like someone forgot their meds that morning, but I'm curious about the trial itself

What was the case being heard, and what was wild about before that specific event. the tweet says "the whole trial was insane"

and the lawyers the judge aimed the pistol at were corporate attorneys. makes me a little bit curious.. but I'm a little too busy with other stuff today. if anyone shares the "rest of the story", please pm me the link.

[Nevilledog]

5. There's a link and no paywall link in the OP.

[msfiddlestix]

6. ✔️ Ty n/t

[Tommy Carcetti]

4. Mark it zero!

[Dr. Strange]

7. This ain't Vietnam...

there are rules!

[rsdsharp]

8. I've known a number of judges who were routinely armed.

I’ve discussed courtroom and security measures with judges, including jumping out of a third story window into a net, believe it or not. I have never seen a judge brandish a firearm, however, and I won’t tolerate a muzzle sweeping me, let alone being pointed at me by anyone. That’s nuts!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. Sounds like terroristic threatening, to me.

[Emile]

10. I have a county judge that comes here to go fishing.

He is always carrying a concealed firearm. He said his years as a county prosecutor and the years he spent as judge he has made some real enemies.

[UTUSN]

11. *and* he lies?!

[Wounded Bear]

12. Judge Dredd, the Prequel...

[SunImp]

13. This makes me think of this Preacher who pulled out a gun during a sermon

[Nevilledog]

14. I would not go back.

Who am I kidding? Never woulda been there in the first place.