A local judge accused of malfeasance in office through the voicing of an anti-Semitic remark in his court will receive a public hearing here, it was announced today by County Attorney Darrey Davis.
The accused is Judge Edwin Strickland. He had been charged with anti-Semitism in a letter to the Jewish Floridian last June by Marvin I. Cohen, a high school teacher. According to Mr. Cohen, Judge Strickland, who was trying alleged traffic law offenders last June 8, told the teacher as the latter pleaded innocence to a charge before the court: “You Jews are the same; 90 percent plead not guilty. “
Since the Cohen charge was printed in the Floridian, Mr. Davis has been investigating the case, having interrogated the high school teacher, the Judge and nine witnesses. The public hearing has been set by the county attorney for September 26. Judge Strickland, whom the County Commission appointed to a six-year term of office in 1958, could be dismissed by the commission if found guilty of malfeasance.
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