Judge Declares: Father Cannot Speak Spanish to His Daughter

[Midwest_Doc]

Published Thursday
October 16, 2003

Judge's language ruling sparks broad reaction

BY CINDY GONZALEZ

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

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A group of Omaha-area residents has invited District Judge Ronald E. Reagan of Sarpy County to meet with them about "cultural bias" in his courtroom.

The group, which includes bilingual parents, is concerned about the judge telling a Latino father to avoid speaking Spanish to his 5-year-old daughter during visitation. They asked for a meeting so he could "get to know us."


Judge Ronald E. Reagan

"We want to reach out to you, in an attempt to understand a decision that will have wide-reaching implications. . .," the group told the judge in a letter.

Reagan was unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon, according to a recorded message at his office.

The nine people issuing the invitation include Theresa Barron-McKeagney of the University of Nebraska at Omaha School of Social Work, Virgil Patlan of the Latino Peace Officers Association and Karen Shepard of Greater Omaha Community Action, a member of the Omaha Public Schools board.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. did this asshole judge really say "speak Hispanic"....jays'us

:eyes:

[boxster]

2. Ah, yes, welcome to ol' conservative Nebraska.

This isn't the first time Reagan has been on the judicial end of a controversial decision, and I'm sure it won't be his last.

And for this idiot judge to say, "speak Hispanic" in a city where the Hispanic community is growing faster than any other is just plain ignorant.

To paraphrase W, I think Mr. Reagan is Hispanically-challenged.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. this is an overt violation of civil rights

this will be overruled on appeal I'm sure. This guy is unqualified for the bench obviously.

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. You have got to be fucking kidding me

First thing I want to see is this "judge's" birth certificate, because I'm not buying the name. Second, I want to see his law degree because nobody that fucking ignorant deserves to be on a bench.

[boxster]

5. Unfortunately, both are legitimate.

He's been "in the news" around here on several occasions over the past several years.