Judge accused of hitting man and yelling n-word gets to keep his pay while on interim suspension
A Mississippi judge accused of hitting a mentally disabled man and yelling a racial slur will get to keep his pay while on interim suspension.
The Mississippi Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a motion to reconsider its March 26 decision placing Judge William “Bill” Weisenberger on interim suspension with pay, report the Legal Profession Blog and the Clarion-Ledger. Weisenberger earns $45,700 a year.
Weisenberger was indicted in February on a charge of simple assault on a vulnerable person for a May 2014 incident at a flea market. Weisenberger, who was working at the flea market in traffic control, allegedly struck a mentally disabled man and yelled “Run, [N-word], run.”
Weisenberger denied any wrongdoing.
He is also facing a lawsuit claiming he arrested and charged an African American man on the nonexistent charge of “roaming livestock,” according to the Clarion-Ledger.
The Mississippi Supreme Court cited state statute providing for the continuation of pay and past decisions providing for pay when judges are temporarily suspended after a felony indictment. The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance had argued a contrary state law applied.
