U.S. District Judge Ada Brown is facing a judicial misconduct investigation after repeatedly making racial remarks toward a Latino attorney during a Dallas court hearing, according to Bloomberg Law.
The inquiry has led to the reassignment of Brown’s cases and an order requiring her to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, according to published reports. Brown denies wrongdoing and disputes suggestions that she has a mental health condition.
The complaint stems from an April 24 hearing involving attorney Ezra Young, who represents former Southern Methodist University law professor Cheryl Butler in a discrimination lawsuit over her denial of tenure.
According to the hearing transcript cited by Bloomberg Law, Brown repeatedly described Young as white and accused him of displaying “white privilege” and “white mediocrity.” She also suggested he was intimidated by “black excellence” and portrayed him as an outsider attempting to rescue black attorneys in Texas.
Young told Brown that she had misidentified his ethnicity and that he had previously disclosed his Latino background.
“I’m not white, Your Honor,” he said.
A lawyer’s misconduct complaint against US District Judge Ada Brown stemmed from a hearing during which she repeatedly directed racial insults at him, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg Law. — Bloomberg Law (@BLaw) October 28, 2026
Young filed a misconduct complaint after the hearing, according to Bloomberg Law. His complaint contributed to an investigation into Brown’s conduct and ability to carry out her judicial responsibilities.
On Sept. 29, the Fifth Circuit’s judicial council reassigned Brown’s existing cases and suspended new case assignments for three months, the Dallas Express reported. Investigators also ordered a psychiatric evaluation and found that she had withdrawn from more than 40 cases.
Bloomberg Law reported that Brown subsequently emailed sealed court records to approximately 140 judges, attorneys and journalists. A special investigative committee led by Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod ordered Brown to appear and warned that its proceedings could continue without her cooperation.
In a 76-page response, Brown rejected the allegations of wrongdoing and disputed claims concerning her mental health. She acknowledged, however, that she could have handled the discussion of race “more delicately,” according to Bloomberg Law.
Former federal appeals judge Andre Davis told Bloomberg Law that the case for Brown’s removal could be compelling if the investigation concluded on the existing record. University of Pittsburgh judicial ethics scholar Arthur Hellman emphasized judges’ obligation to treat people in their courtrooms with patience, dignity, respect and courtesy.
The underlying lawsuit concerns Butler’s allegation that discrimination led to her tenure denial at SMU. Brown dismissed the case in 2023, but the Fifth Circuit later revived part of the lawsuit.
The misconduct inquiry remains separate from the merits of Butler’s discrimination claims.
Source: https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/29/judge-ada-brown-white-privilege-misconduct-probe-texas/