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Rita Mella, second from left, Manuel Mendez, right. File photo.
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SANTO DOMINGO.- Two Dominican judges assigned to courts in New York said the U.S. judicial system in that city processes more than 30,000 cases monthly, more than 85 percent of which involve infractions committed by minorities, including Hispanics.

Rita Mella and Manuel Méndez, New York County civil judges, said the cases of drug trafficking, corruption and other felonies are sent to the federal court system.

The New York civil court magistrates spoke on the topic, "the administration of justice in the United States: Experience of Dominican judges," held on Thursday APEC University school of law in Santo Domingo.

APEC governing board president doctor Luis Heredia Bonetti headed the event, with the presence of university professors, government officials and other authorities.

Mella and Mendez spoke on their particular experiences, on the challenge of being a judge in a New York City and on the United States legal system.

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COMMENTS
6 comment(s)
Written by: NYC, 12 Oct 2007 5:49 PM
From: NYC
85%?

In other words, 8 to 9 out of 10 who are appearing in court are hispanic?

I worked as a paralegal before, i dont recall seeing that many hispanics before the judges.

I have been thru the federal court, housing court, criminal court, supreme court and I dont remember that many.

I guess this is based on statistics????
but whose statistics and what was the purpose of the study?
this is questionable..
Written by: Richard, 13 Oct 2007 6:28 PM
From: New York
Why these JUDGES are coming to New York?
Will be good if they are coming to learn from The Judicial System of United States.
But, to learn, firstable they have to be honorable no corrupts.
They shoudl not give visa to enter to Th United States.
Written by: Reality, 14 Oct 2007 6:21 AM
From: NYC
I guess Hispanics are the problem.

They are given golden opportunities in th USA and continue to live like swine, as if they were at home in their native land.
Written by: Hon. Rita Mella, 15 Oct 2007 12:59 PM
From: Manhattan
I'm writing to clarify the statement that is attributed to me in this article. What I said is that approximately 85% of the defendants that appear before me in the Manhattan Criminal Court belong to an ethnic or racial minority. I did not say that 85% of them were of Hispanic origin.
Written by: NYC, 17 Oct 2007 1:03 PM
From: NYC
Your honor, I suggest you ask the newspaper to correct this error.
Written by: NYC, 17 Oct 2007 1:14 PM
From: NYC
Dear Mr Reality,

sir/madam
The majority of the hispanics you are refering to are the ones who cannot and will never be able to get out of the hood.

Cops and Crimnl Crt Jugdes may not be able to interact with any other environment, its a pesimistic outlook that is why i dont work in court anymore

You live in NYC?

I suggest that you go outside of where you live and head to either midtown, downtown and even wall st.

You will have a rude awakening.


Good luck on your trip!
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