Ministers voice support for judge
A group of Black ministers voiced their support Thursday for an Oklahoma County District Court judge who is facing disciplinary action.
The Concerned Clergy for Spiritual Renewal gathered at a local church to create a social media message of support for Oklahoma County District Court Judge Kendra Coleman, who is Black.
The ministers said Coleman, 44, is being harassed and intimidated at the Oklahoma County Courthouse but she was elected with widespread support from the Black community and the ministers' group will stand up for her as she faces several accusations that could result in her removal from the bench.
“She has served with character and with integrity. She has not violated the ethical requirements of her position. She has been fair and impartial,” the Rev. John A. Reed, president of the Concerned Clergy group, said Thursday.
He said Coleman is being targeted by Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and others in the district court system and treated as though she is already guilty of allegations being made against her.
"We understand at this particular time there is some systematic opposition being unjustly brought against her. During the past 18 months, she has been subjected to and endured unreasonable unsubstantiated allegations by the district attorney and other individuals in the Oklahoma judicial system," said Reed, senior pastor of Fairview Baptist Church.
The preacher said although Coleman has not been found guilty of any criminal acts, he thinks a media campaign has been launched to sway public opinion against her and to get her unfairly removed from the bench. He said there should be an investigation into Prater's office for unethical abuse of authority against Coleman, among other things.
The Oklahoman previously reported that Coleman faces trial before a special court on accusations involving unpaid taxes, her 2018 campaign and her behavior in court. She has denied wrongdoing.
The Court on the Judiciary could vote to remove her from office or impose lesser sanctions. The trial is set for Aug. 31. The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently sent the accusations to the special court for discipline. A majority of justices also called for her immediate temporary suspension with pay until trial. In late June, Coleman agreed to accept a paid suspension while the disciplinary proceedings are pending. Prater could not be reached for comment late Thursday. He has not made any statements about Coleman outside of court.
Thursday, The Rev. Derrick Scobey, senior pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, said, in essence, Coleman was being treated unfairly because she is Black and refused to “stay in her place.” He said Coleman has been ostracized by her peers and some of her subordinates. He said some individuals at the courthouse have reportedly been heard describing her by a "disparaging term of `The Girl' ” instead of her judicial title, among other indignities.
He said the court house community's public disdain for Coleman sends a message to people who voted for her that their vote doesn't count unless the person they send to the courthouse is sanctioned by the “powers that be” at district court.
“May I submit to you today that the only felonious crime Judge Kendra Coleman committed was one of not walking softly and quietly like a little Black girl from Spencer, Oklahoma, ought to walk and rarely talk in a whitemale dominated system,” Scobey said.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma NAACP President Garland Pruitt also spoke at the gathering. He and several state legislators, Sen. George Young, D- Oklahoma City; and Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, stood in solidarity with the group of clergy voicing their support for Coleman at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.