An appeals court overturned the conviction of a Black man on drug charges Thursday after it was determined his rights were violated when a federal district judge in Detroit declared he looked like a “criminal,” according to CBS News.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy III was reportedly frustrated prior to making the remarks in 2020. The frustration resulted from Leron Liggins repeatedly changing his mind about pleading guilty and wanting a trial over drug charges stemming from 2018, CBS News reported.
“This guy looks like a criminal to me. This is what criminals do,” Murphy stated at the time, according to the outlet. “This isn’t what innocent people who want a fair trial do. He’s indicted in Kentucky. He’s indicted here. He’s alleged to be dealing heroin, which addicts, hurts and kills people, and he’s playing games with the court,” Murphy complained.
Southfield Resident Sentenced to More Than Ten Years In Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking | MI Headlines https://t.co/n0xQ7uMzX0 #drugtraffickng #federalprision #leronliggins pic.twitter.com/8yAxb7V4fb
— MI Headlines (@MIheadlines) March 27, 2022
Despite a request from Liggins’ attorney to step down from the case, Murphy reportedly refused. Murphy instead offered Liggins an apology at his trial in 2021, where Liggins was subsequently convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to 10 years in prison, the outlet stated. (RELATED: New York Judge Steps Down Amid Accusations Of Racism, Homophobia)
The appeals court ruled Murphy should have stepped down from the case in light of the remarks and have since thrown out the heroin conviction and the 10 year sentence overseen by Murphy, ordering a new trial with a new judge, CBS News noted.
“Such remarks are wholly incompatible with the fair administration of justice,” the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals explained of their ruling, stating if they allowed the conviction to stand it would “substantially undermine the public’s confidence in the judicial process,” according to CBS News.