A judge in Florida is being accused of bias after making comments about passing "the peace pipe" in a case involving two members of the
Miccosukee Tribe.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Ronald Dresnick made the comments about the "peace pipe" at a hearing last August.
The attorneys for Tammy Gwen Billie and her father, Jimmie Bert, are concerned that their clients won't receive “fair and impartial treatment” in the case.
“I heard that the judge told our lawyers to ‘pass the peace pipe,’ ’’ Tammy Gwen Billie wrote in an affidavit, The Miami Herald reports. “That is a mean and racist statement! …We want a new judge who is not prejudiced against us!!!”
The Herald also posted a copy of a transcript from a hearing last Monday, March 19.
At one point, Dresnick told an attorney for the Miccosukee defendants to "shut up."
"If I tell you again to shut up, I'm going to hold you in contempt," Dresnick said, according to the transcript. "I'm trying to hear from him. Now be quiet."
The transcript shows Michael Tein interrupted Dresnick multiple times throughout the hearing. He accused the judge of allowing the proceedings to get "totally out of control."
Billie and Bert have been ordered to pay $3.2 million for a 1998 accident that claimed the life of Liliana Bermudez.
Bermudez's husband has been unable to collect the judgment and has accused the tribe of paying for the services of the attorneys for the Miccosukee defendants.
Get the Story:
Miami attorneys accuse judge of anti-Indian “bias’’ in Miccosukee wrongful-death case
(The Miami Herald 3/26)
Miami man still owed $3.2 M from Miccosukee tribe members
(The Miami Herald 3/17)
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Lawyers try to collect $3.2M from Miccosukee defendants (10/28)
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