A Vermont man confronted a judge this week after being too lenient on a white man who violated a court order by allegedly purchasing a handgun.
What We Know:
- Judge William Cohen ruled that Max Misch would not have to pay bail for allegedly purchasing a handgun, who his wife reported to police, despite a court order he received earlier this year. In February, Misch was charged with two counts of possessing high-capacity magazines, which are illegal in the state but considered misdemeanors.
- Assistant Attorney General John Waszak asked the judge to set bail at $200 but the judge declined.
- Shawn Pratt, a black man who was in the courtroom, gave Judge Cohen a piece of his mind over the ruling saying it was “unfair.” Pratt spoke on his nephew who was held on a high bail for over a year before the charges were dropped. “My nephew didn’t get no conditions, this is unfair. He should be locked up!” Pratt says in a video obtained by VTDigger.
- Misch fired back at Pratt saying, “You should be locked up,” before telling Pratt to “Shut the f*** up!”
- Pratt was able to get one last word in before being escorted out of the courtroom. “Keep on with these racial disparities, guys!” he exclaims. “We’re watching all of you!”
Misch was involved in an unrelated incident earlier this year for racially harassing Vermont’s only Black lawmaker Rep. Ruqaiyah “Kiah” Morris (D-Bennington). The state’s attorney decided not to press criminal charges on him. Morris resigned last September after months of receiving threats against her and her family.
