
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 4, 1991                   TAG: 9104040109
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEWARK, N.J.                                LENGTH: Medium

JUDGE DROPPED FOR LECTURING PLAINTIFF

A judge who berated a woman for being an unwed mother, telling her that children born out of wedlock end up in jail or are shot, was suspended Wednesday by the state Supreme Court's chief justice.

Justice Robert N. Wilentz removed Superior Court Judge Eugene P. Kenny after listening to a tape recording of the 76-year-old jurist lecturing the woman, Debbie Rivera.

Rivera, 27, of Jersey City said Kenny turned her court appearance into a lecture on morality.

"He just came out of the blue, screaming and yelling," Rivera said. "I went there for justice, and instead I got discriminated. I want him to be disbarred from the bench."

The matter is being referred to the Supreme Court for consideration, Wilentz said in a statement.

On March 25, Rivera went to Hudson County Special Civil Court to recover $300 from a check-cashing agency she accused of shortchanging her. The judge ruled against her.

Kenny, retired since 1985 but working part time, was serving his one day a week on the bench. In the transcript, he admits asking irrelevant questions but insists that Rivera answer them. He lectures her on her answers.

"That's all wrong, having children out of wedlock. Other people have to support them. Why can't you work?" Kenny said. "It's not relevant, but I'm asking you about it. Why?"

He continued: "If you took a census of state prisons, you'd find that three-quarters are born out of wedlock. If I had the same upbringing they had, I would be down there myself - if I hadn't been shot years ago."

On Wednesday, Rivera, who has daughters 1 and 12 years old, said Kenny's scolding still bothered her.

by CNB