Lynne's Lens
Rally in Dallas
I took this in December 1988 at Dallas City Hall in protest of Judge Jack Hampton's sentencing of a man who murdered two gay men. Here's the story (from republicoft.com):
John Lloyd Griffin & Tommy Lee Trimble, two gay men, were shot and killed in Dallas, TX, on May 15, 1988, by teenagers seeking to “pester the homosexuals.” One of their killers, Richard Lee Bednarski later received a 30 year sentence from a judge who said leniency was in order because Bednarski had killed two homosexuals.
The Background
On May 15, 1988, Bednarski and a group of his friends set out on to harass homosexuals. Witnesses said that nine boys, including Trimble, were standing on a streetcorner in the Oak Lawn section of Dallas, when Griffin and Trimble drove up and invited the boys into their car. There was no evidence presented at trial that the Griffin and Trimble solicited sex from their attackers. Bednarski was said to have persuaded one more friend from his group to get into the car.
The Attack
After the car reached Reverchon Park, a witness said Bednarski ordered Trimble and Griffin to remove their clothes. When they refused, Bednarski withdrew a pistol and immediately began firing. Trimble died immediately. Griffin died five days later.
The Aftermath
Sentencing
On December 17, 1988, The Dallas Morning News reported that judge Jack Hampton sentenced Bednarski to 30 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murder, a charge that carried the possibility of a life sentence. Judge Hampton, in an interview after the sentencing hearing said he gave Bednarski a lenient sentence because the victims were homosexuals who wouldn’t have been killed “if they hadn’t been cruising the streets picking up teenage boys.”
Hampton added that he might have given Bednarski a harsher sentence if he had killed “a couple of housewives out shopping, not hurting anybody.”
Hampton went on to say, “I put prostitutes and gays at about the same level, and I’d be hard pressed to give someone life for killing a prostitute.” Hampton added that in making his sentencing decision he also considered that Bednarski had no criminal record, was attending college, and was raised in a good home by a father who is a police officer.
The prosecutor asked for a life sentence and the defense asked for a five year sentence after the jury found Bednarski guilty. Texas law at the time allowed the defendant to decide whether the jury or the judge would set the sentence. Bednarski opted to have Judge Hampton decide his sentence, believing that the judge would be more sympathetic than the jury.
Bednarski would be eligible for parole in 7 1/2 years. In a television interview, when asked his opinion about Hampton’s statement, said “That is his own opinion. I don’t happen to agree with it.
In response to the outraged response of gay activists and community organizations to his ruling, Hampton told The Times-Herald, “Just spell my name right. If it makes anybody mad, they’ll forget by 1990.” Hampton was due to face re-election in 1990.
On December 20, 1988, about 200 people took part in a rally outside the Dallas County Courthouse, calling for Hampton’s ouster.
Hampton Censured
In December 1989, the Texas Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Human Rights Foundation, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct concerning Hampton’s comments.
On Novemver 29, 1989, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured Hampton. The Commission said that Hampton’s remarks violatd the judicial code prohibiting comment on a pending case and requiring judges to promote confidence in the judiciary. The censure order read:
“The commission finds that Judge Hampton’s comments, per se, were destructive of public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. The hostility and distrust generated by this judge’s irresponsible statements created an additional burden for the entire judiciary.”
Hampton Defeated
In December 1994, Judge Hampton narroly lost and appeals court election to Judge Barbara Rosenberg, a Democrat. Rosenberg campaigned on a fairness theme, and referred to Hampton’s earlier censure in her television ads.
Rally in Dallas
I took this in December 1988 at Dallas City Hall in protest of Judge Jack Hampton's sentencing of a man who murdered two gay men. Here's the story (from republicoft.com):
John Lloyd Griffin & Tommy Lee Trimble, two gay men, were shot and killed in Dallas, TX, on May 15, 1988, by teenagers seeking to “pester the homosexuals.” One of their killers, Richard Lee Bednarski later received a 30 year sentence from a judge who said leniency was in order because Bednarski had killed two homosexuals.
The Background
On May 15, 1988, Bednarski and a group of his friends set out on to harass homosexuals. Witnesses said that nine boys, including Trimble, were standing on a streetcorner in the Oak Lawn section of Dallas, when Griffin and Trimble drove up and invited the boys into their car. There was no evidence presented at trial that the Griffin and Trimble solicited sex from their attackers. Bednarski was said to have persuaded one more friend from his group to get into the car.
The Attack
After the car reached Reverchon Park, a witness said Bednarski ordered Trimble and Griffin to remove their clothes. When they refused, Bednarski withdrew a pistol and immediately began firing. Trimble died immediately. Griffin died five days later.
The Aftermath
Sentencing
On December 17, 1988, The Dallas Morning News reported that judge Jack Hampton sentenced Bednarski to 30 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murder, a charge that carried the possibility of a life sentence. Judge Hampton, in an interview after the sentencing hearing said he gave Bednarski a lenient sentence because the victims were homosexuals who wouldn’t have been killed “if they hadn’t been cruising the streets picking up teenage boys.”
Hampton added that he might have given Bednarski a harsher sentence if he had killed “a couple of housewives out shopping, not hurting anybody.”
Hampton went on to say, “I put prostitutes and gays at about the same level, and I’d be hard pressed to give someone life for killing a prostitute.” Hampton added that in making his sentencing decision he also considered that Bednarski had no criminal record, was attending college, and was raised in a good home by a father who is a police officer.
The prosecutor asked for a life sentence and the defense asked for a five year sentence after the jury found Bednarski guilty. Texas law at the time allowed the defendant to decide whether the jury or the judge would set the sentence. Bednarski opted to have Judge Hampton decide his sentence, believing that the judge would be more sympathetic than the jury.
Bednarski would be eligible for parole in 7 1/2 years. In a television interview, when asked his opinion about Hampton’s statement, said “That is his own opinion. I don’t happen to agree with it.
In response to the outraged response of gay activists and community organizations to his ruling, Hampton told The Times-Herald, “Just spell my name right. If it makes anybody mad, they’ll forget by 1990.” Hampton was due to face re-election in 1990.
On December 20, 1988, about 200 people took part in a rally outside the Dallas County Courthouse, calling for Hampton’s ouster.
Hampton Censured
In December 1989, the Texas Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Human Rights Foundation, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct concerning Hampton’s comments.
On Novemver 29, 1989, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured Hampton. The Commission said that Hampton’s remarks violatd the judicial code prohibiting comment on a pending case and requiring judges to promote confidence in the judiciary. The censure order read:
“The commission finds that Judge Hampton’s comments, per se, were destructive of public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. The hostility and distrust generated by this judge’s irresponsible statements created an additional burden for the entire judiciary.”
Hampton Defeated
In December 1994, Judge Hampton narroly lost and appeals court election to Judge Barbara Rosenberg, a Democrat. Rosenberg campaigned on a fairness theme, and referred to Hampton’s earlier censure in her television ads.