A Texas federal judge is under investigation for misconduct and undergoing a psychological evaluation after reportedly launching an anti-white tirade against a New York attorney. In her comments, she claimed the attorney was intimidated by what she referred to as “black excellence” stemming from “white mediocrity.”
The attorney, Ezra Young, has been representing a former black law professor in a discrimination lawsuit against a Texas university.
During the proceedings in 2023, Judge Ada Brown, presiding over the case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, accused Young of misconduct, though she stopped short of imposing any penalties. However, she subsequently prohibited him from continuing to represent the former professor in her court.
Earlier this year, Brown summoned Young back to court, alleging he had publicly shared sealed court documents and sensationalized the matter. She granted him an opportunity to explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt or face sanctions.
At a hearing in Dallas on April 24, Young reiterated his innocence, but things took an unexpected turn.
According to court transcripts, Brown—identifying as a black woman with stated American Indian heritage—made far-reaching accusations against Young, going beyond merely calling him dishonest.
She unexpectedly thanked him for his “white saviordom” and, addressing him as “Chad,” referenced a stereotype associated with young white men. At one point, she remarked, “Any time you, Chad, don’t get what you want, you call the manager.”
Later, she characterized Young as the “Main Character Chad,” a “white hero” who tries to assist black individuals as an ally.
The judge seemed to escalate her remarks into a racially charged outburst, stating that Young was “insufferably entitled,” was abusive towards black lawyers, and expressed a pattern of maligning them for simply not adhering to his demands. She further accused him of having “white privilege,” a problem with “black excellence,” and of carrying a “white-savior-complex.”
Young countered that the judge was perpetuating negative stereotypes about white people, despite his own Latino heritage. Brown, however, maintained that he appeared “white-presenting.” Subsequently, Young filed a complaint against Brown, alleging she might be suffering from a mental health issue.
In her response, Brown claimed her conduct during the conversations about race was appropriate but acknowledged that she could have communicated those thoughts more delicately.
The ongoing investigation looked into Judge Brown’s conduct. A committee of federal judges concluded that she might have a mental health issue impacting her responsibilities. The inquiry considered her alleged escalating hostility and inappropriate comments towards others, her recusal from over 40 cases in recent months, and her unusual claims concerning misconduct by judges and staff.
Following this evaluation, a special committee required Brown to undergo a psychiatric assessment, but they did not receive confirmation of compliance within the stipulated timeframe.
On September 29, Jennifer Walker Elrod, a member of the committee, made a decision to reassign Brown’s cases and restrict her from taking on new assignments. Shortly afterwards, she indicated that there was probable cause for believing Brown had engaged in misconduct beyond the issues initially raised against her.
Accordingly, a judicial misconduct complaint was filed against Brown, leading to the formation of another special committee to investigate further. An announcement was made on October 19 about her upcoming interview for the investigation.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, when approached for comments, stated it could not discuss the situation further. Meanwhile, Young chose not to provide any remarks on the matter.
