A Baltimore County judge was suspended without pay for 30 days Tuesday for making “inappropriate” comments in court, including calling one man a “crackhead” and another an “ass.”
Baltimore County District Judge Bruce Lamdin was disciplined by the Maryland Court of Appeals, which wrote in a 26-page opinion that “neither a reprimand nor removal from office are warranted.”
Neither Lamdin nor his attorney, Alvin Frederick, returned phone calls Tuesday asking for comment on the ruling by Maryland?s highest court.
According to the Court of Appeals opinion, Lamdin also insulted judges on Baltimore County?s Circuit Court ? implying they?re lazy.
“They?re all on their way to have cocktails or something up there at the Circuit Court,” he said.
Lamdin also derided law enforcement in Baltimore City, implying it?s soft on crime.
“When you get down there, you can pray a jury trial and you?re guaranteed to have it dismissed when you go up to the Circuit Court,” he said of the city court system.
In December, Frederick told the state?s highest court that Lamdin was remorseful.
“He?s embarrassed and ashamed of his actions,” Frederick said.
Frederick said the judge has improved his behavior and vowed not to insult the citizens who appear before him or other members of the judiciary. He?s also meeting with several more experienced judges for guidance, Lamdin?s attorney said.
Lamdin, a former defense attorney and a judge since 2002, was trying to help those people who appeared before him by speaking bluntly, Frederick said.
He was trying to talk to them “in a way they could understand,” Frederick said.
