ABA Journal - Law News Now

Comments

• Report Abuse

1. Posted by Native New Yorker - 1 month, 13 hours, 16 minutes ago

   Are Koehler’s pants on fire?  Not only is he racist, but a liar too.  He thought he was speaking to someone he knew?  Totally forgot ... we all look alike.

2. Posted by df - 1 month, 11 hours, 9 minutes ago

   Why is he banned from the floor unless escorted? Is he considered a security risk because of this comment? I don’t like what he said, but that doesn’t mean he should be treated like a predator.

   I also wonder, aren’t there First Amendment issues over his being restricted to a greater extent than others, in a government office, because of the content of what he said?

3. Posted by CP - 4 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 51 minutes ago

   Paul Koehler’s actions sited in this article are only one grain of sand in the desert of his inappropriate behaviors.  After 3.5 years in litigation with Koehler, name calling, deliberately confusing judges, recusing judges exhausted by his unprofessional antics, shouting at defendants, etc… are deliberate actions on the part of Paul Koehler that are intended to make a mockery of the law, impress his ignorant client and line his pockets.  Kudos to Judge Workman and Judge Adams who are among the minority in that they were will to take a stand.

4. Posted by LawStudent - 4 weeks, 1 day, 4 hours, 40 minutes ago

   Hard to believe this order will stand any longer than it takes to get the matter before a higher court.

5. Posted by JW - 4 weeks, 1 day, 3 hours, 18 minutes ago

   Don’t you know--courts don’t have to abide by the Constitution.  That is for the common folk.

6. Posted by 2L - 4 weeks, 1 day, 2 hours, 6 minutes ago

   I am a law student who is currently enrolled in Professional Responsibility. It is people like Koehler that make great examples of what not to do in your profession. I think it is a shame that such inappropriate people make it to a position that others trust and look to them for leadership. I hope that his behavior continues to be monitored and repremanded. Bravo, Judges for taking a stand. I hope that someone will remind Koehler that even though we have degrees and credentials in the practice of law, we must remember that we are the administers of justice, which is not a paper driven task, but a soul driven task. Upholding the law without exhibiting an ounce of humanity and respect of others will not get you far. It is my hope that he will change his attitude or change his profession.

7. Posted by Eric Hasselberg - 4 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour, 35 minutes ago

   When did the word “monkey” become a racial epithet?  This controvversy is as pathetic as the one about use of the word “niggardly” a few years ago.

8. Posted by Casey C. - 4 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour, 26 minutes ago

   "Monkey” has always been a racial epithet (as in “porch monkey") I agree with previous posters, bravo to the judges!

9. Posted by MS - 4 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour, 22 minutes ago

   "When did the word “monkey” become a racial epithet? “

   Long ago.  See http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=porch+monkey.

   “a derogatory way of describing an person of African decent “

   It’s much different than the innocent, if idiotic, use of the word “niggardly.”

10. Posted by Curious George - 4 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour, 21 minutes ago

    I am offended that the word monkey would be directed toward a mere human.

11. Posted by Samantha - 4 weeks, 1 day, 52 minutes ago

    Regardless of free speech issues, or alleged bad behavior on that attorney’s part, the use of “little monkey” can indeed be a term of endearment used to describe or address a frisky, mischievous or especially active person.  When I use it, it has NOTHING to do with race.  I worry that people are out looking for ways to be offended...if you’re looking for offense, you’ll definitely find it.

12. Posted by mdpc - 4 weeks, 1 day, 38 minutes ago

    I call my infant son a little monkey all the time, and I love him more than anything in the world.  He hoots, bangs his arms, is especially active and always climbing on things, and clings to people holding him like a little monkey.  I’ve heard other (white) parents refer to their babies in the same way.  But if I said the same thing to a black friend’s baby, I would expect death stares at the least.

    Not sure I’ve ever refered to any adult that way, though.  Seems like you’re entering a different realm where it’s more likely to be race-based.  Unless she was someone who liked to hoot, bang her arms, and climb on things.

13. Posted by Tired - 4 weeks, 1 day, 32 minutes ago

    There is no way he meant to be endearing when he approached an adult female in a professional setting and called her a “little monkey.” At best it was offensive and patronizing. At worst it was overtly racist and should not be swept under the “free speech” rug.  Lawyers have standards of professional conduct and this was so far beneath it that it had to be dealt with.  What if he was in court addressing a jury and referred to opposing counsel as a “little monkey?” Should that be handled as a free speech issue, or dealt with as the offensive, degrading, and unprofessional comment that it is?  Lastly, most African-Americans are not walking around with a chip on their shoulders waiting for someone to make a racist commnet. However, it does happen.  There are racist people in America.  So, when they are called on it, don’t be too quick to chalk it up to people being overly sensitive.

14. Posted by Charles - 4 weeks, 23 hours, 41 minutes ago

    What’s idiotic about using the term niggardly?

15. Posted by stingy - 4 weeks, 22 hours, 59 minutes ago

    Its not idiotic. In fact, the term is completely appropriate when describing miserly or frugal spending.  An idiot confuses the word with a racial epithet.

16. Posted by Froggleggs - 4 weeks, 22 hours, 39 minutes ago

    As a person of “African descent,” luckily not American born I do not understand the reference of monkeys and African peoples.  It is only in the US that such a reference is used and has been internalized by the people to whom it is directed.  Unfortunately black people in the US have allowed this type of manipulation for far too long.  When I do the analysis, that is actually looking at the features of primates, they do not resemble us at all.  People of African descent tend to have kinky hair for example.  I never encountered a primate with this feature. 

    This note is directed mainly to my American brothers and sisters of African descent to encourage them to consider the ignorant sources that direct this type of so called racism toward them.  Racism of this caliber is the problem of the perpetrator.  As a group we need to direct our energies at fighting more serious issues such as incarceration of mass numbers of black people.  Ignorant people like Koehler will never change even when he is disciplined by the law.  Remember we can only legislate civilized behaviour so far.  It is up to us individually to examine our attitudes and work on ourselves.  So we must use our energies for larger purposes rather than directing them at little incidences such as these.  There are thousands of Koehlers out there who hold these patheticly ignorant beliefs.  It is up to us individually to not internalize them.

17. Posted by R - 4 weeks, 20 hours, 27 minutes ago

    I cannot believe that there are serious posts on this article DEFENDING a lawyer’s calling an African-American woman a “little monkey.”

18. Posted by Opposing Counsel - 4 weeks, 17 hours, 46 minutes ago

    I am currently lead cousel in a case in which Mr. Koehler is opposing counsel.  I am not a fan of his.  For the record, Mr. Koehler is, I believe, 71 years old.

    That being said, if people would read what he actually said, the problem does not appear to be a “heart” problem as much as an “eyesight” problem.  He was confused.  He thought he was talking to an acquaintance that he knew intimately enough to joke with.  Surely most of us say things to friends that we would not share with strangers.

    Perhaps the wrath of the Court was the result of previous engagements with Mr. Koehler to which we are not privy.

    I am concerned that we live in a society in which we cannot accept apologies, forgive, and restore, instead of instinctively assuming the absolute worst simply because the possibility is there.

    The Court certainly has the power and the perogative to administer its public space; however, personally, my opinion is that this is like killing ants in the kitchen with napalm.

    Perhpas we should all lighten up.  Or is that a racist statement, too?

19. Posted by NJHandyGirl - 4 weeks, 16 hours, 8 minutes ago

    "As a person of “African descent,” luckily not American born “

    I find it interesting that you would consider yourself “lucky” not to be American born and then turn around and tell us how to behave when dealing with inappropriate behavior in a professional setting in our homeland. I believe that if we start with the “little incidences” such as these, we can head off bigger issues. It is because people are able to get away with the little things that they begin to grow.

    That being said, I went to law school in Atlanta and I agree with Opposing Counsel...I’ve heard about Mr. Koehler and this perhaps would not have been as serious if he did not have issues in the past.

20. Posted by LawStudent - 4 weeks, 4 hours, 59 minutes ago

    Political correctness in the form of the speech police would appear to be alive and well. This is not a good thing. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together should recognize a threat to freedom when he sees it.

21. Posted by Older and Wiser Guy - 3 weeks, 5 days, 34 minutes ago

    Wow, all these comments and not one mention of the late, great Howard Cosell referring to Washington Redskins (there’s a topic for another thread) wide receiver Alvin Garrett as “a little monkey.” He said, “Look at that little monkey go!” This was around 1984. Howie got raked over the coals.

22. Posted by CJesquire - 3 weeks, 4 days, 14 minutes ago

    Unfortunately, a lot of people are not aware of their history.

    Monkey has been used for blacks outside of America for over a century now.  Sports is the perfect example to showcase the modern negative racist use of monkey to describe people of black descent from Africa, America, South America, and Europe.  Black athletes in several sports have complained about the use monkeys (Cricket, baseball, soccer, etc.).  Soccer players from Argentina and European countries recently had to apologize for calling soccer players of African descent monkeys and spitting on them during games.

    Europe, Brazil and other Latin American countries used the spanish and portuguese word for monkeys as a racial epithet for people of African descent in their countries.  At sport games players of African descents are often jeered at, spit on, and yelled at with monkey noises.  If the people posting blogs did their research, they would know that this ridiculing of black athletes and black sport fans extends all the way to the early 20th Century with the emergence of Black boxers, baseball players, and jockeys.  When those racist words are used they are often followed by violence.  The first black baseball players in the major league often commented about having objects thrown at him, being called monkey, and being approached/physically assaulted after games.  In 2008, things have clearly not changed.  Non-blacks still are called racial epithets and are constantly have to defend themselves against verbal attacks that whites want to pretend were harmless or meaningless.

    These posts truly sadden me.  If you are non-black and you are unaware of the history behind the words, then maybe you would argue that being called a monkey is not offensive or not a “big deal.” It is a big deal, similar to the way black adult men were often called “boy” by whites of all ages as a form of disrespect and if they disagreed with that title they were lynched, castrated, or tarred and feathered.

    It amazes me how many non-blacks can complain how oversensitive blacks are about racist words, yet they fail to acknowledge the power and history of violence attached to the use of those words which is why the words will always be inappropriate.  Those words were accompanied with physical threats.  Blacks were imprisoned, forced to leave their homes, lynched, and physically assaulted if they challenged those words used against them.

    The use of those words is very degrading, insulting, and frightening.  The words cannot be removed from its historical roots involved in the oppression and violence against Blacks.

    http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-06-01-intolerance-cup_x.htm

23. Posted by Joe - 3 weeks, 1 day, 10 hours, 47 minutes ago

    Most Americans are sick to death of people looking for slights. The day will come when the majority will simply say, “We have had enough of the protected classes whining, complaining, bitching, pissing, and moaning about how someone said this to them or that to them or looked at them in a way they didn’t like or didn’t invite them to lunch or ....” The speech police are an endangered species.