Nearly 200 Sign Petition Supporting Judge Jason Witcher
Judge Jason Witcher. Courtesy of Jason Witcher LinkedIn.
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
BRIDGETON — Nearly 200 people signed a petition in support of Millville Municipal Court Judge Jason Witcher after he spoke out against what he saw was discrimination in court appearances that harmed Latinos.
The petition, which is now closed, was posted on Change.org, detailing Witcher’s position and how is now being threatened for removal from his job by Assignment Judge Benjamin Telsey.
In a story that was first reported on by NJ.com, Witcher spoke out on the record in the Cumberland County court after seeing what he believed to be Latinos being forced to appear for hearings while others were given the option of appearing virtually. Court officials have denied any discrimination took place. Read the NJ.com story here.
Witcher told NJ.com that since speaking out, he received an email from Telsey, who oversees court operations in Cumberland, Salem, and Gloucester counties, threatening to remove him on the bench over an unrelated issue.
“We ask that you sign this petition to not only stand against this unjustifiable discrimination of these Latino defendants but to stop the injudicious removal of Judge Witcher from the bench,” the petition said.
“In addition, we must also bring awareness to the injustices that are still taking place in our communities. Judge Jason Witcher has served as a municipal court judge for more than 12 years. He risked his career to be a voice for the voiceless. We ask that you do the same.
“Use your voice to bring this story to the national forefront. The entire country, as a matter of fact, the entire world must be aware of these injustices,” the petition continued. See the petition here.
Witcher’s comments have caught the attention of the Latino Coalition of the New Jersey, the Garden State Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Association.
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