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An Alabama judicial ethics court unanimously voted to remove a probate judge from office after he was accused of making racist and sexist comments in the workplace.
Randy Jinks, 65, was elected to a 6-year term as a Talladega County probate judge in 2018. According to NBC News, he does not have a legal background, which is not necessary to become a probate judge in most counties in the state.
The Alabama Court of the Judiciary said on Friday that Jinks violated the state's "Canons of Judicial Ethics" in part by "failing to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary and "failing to conduct himself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."
Jinks was first suspended from his position in March after a nearly 80-page document of allegations against him was released by the Judicial Inquiry Commission who evaluates complaints against Alabama judges.
The complaint against Jinks details several racist comments allegedly said by Jinks at his office, none of which occurred in the courtroom.
One incident, recorded by an employee, demonstrated Jinks talking about a racist cartoon while on the phone that referenced the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
"Y'all got to quit burning shit down," the recording of him shows him saying, "You son of bitches are going to need something to burn down after Trump gets re-elected for a second term, son of bitches."
Another complaint against Jinks alleges he accused the sole Black employee at his office, Darrius Pearson, of selling drugs to pay for the car.
"I seen that car. I'm the judge and I can't even afford a Mercedes," Pearson alleges Jinks told him. "What are you doing? Selling drugs?"
While the judicial ethics court found that some of the allegations against him were not a violation, such as asking an employee if they participated in a Black Lives Matter protest, its ruling said that other comments were "completely inappropriate."
"Although the complaint alleges 'racially insensitive behavior,' this Court is of the opinion that Judge Jinks's conduct rose above racial insensitivity," the court's ruling said.
Additionally, Jinks was accused of showing coworkers a video of topless women along with allegations that he made numerous sexual comments in the workplace, including a time when he said he liked the way a woman "burnt his sausage."
Jinks was officially removed from office on October 29 . The court ruled he must also pay for the costs of the proceeding.
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