San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman, appointed by former California Gov. Jerry Brown, is facing criticism from Black public defenders for his persistent use of the N-word in court proceedings. Public defenders have stated that Dorfman, who is white, continues to use the slur despite pleas to stop, arguing that it is necessary to accurately quote evidence or testimony.
Deputy public defender Phoenix Streets described the judge's actions as invoking childhood trauma. "It took me back to my childhood in Beebe, Ark., when white men in pickup trucks armed with rifles would drive by our house yelling ‘n––s’ and racist chants," Streets told the San Francisco Chronicle. He recounted instances where the slur was used without abbreviation, and in one case, the judge instructed a lawyer to say the full word when it arose in discussion.
In 2022, San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju filed a complaint against Judge Dorfman for using the slur in open court, stating the judge lacked awareness of the trauma it inflicts and failed to consider alternatives for creating a sufficient court record. The complaint did not result in action against the judge, and the Superior Court declined to intervene.
According to reports, the judge's office requested the court stop using the word, to which Dorfman allegedly responded, “No, no, no… These are the facts of the case. If it’s the evidence in the case, it’s not casting any insults or offense to anybody.”
In a separate matter in March, Judge Dorfman held Raju in contempt of court and fined him $26,000 for refusing to accept more cases. The First District Court of Appeal later issued an order blocking the enforcement of this fine.