NAACP PRESS RELEASE - NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
The phrase “No good deed goes unpunished” is a scathing commentary on the frequency with which acts of kindness backfire on those who offer them. The Honorable Jason Witcher, a municipal court judge in Cumberland County, has learned this lesson all too well in recent days after trying to stop discriminatory trends against the Latino community. Shortly after this good deed, Judge Witcher claims his job as a municipal judge was threatened. As early as October 2022, Judge Witcher noticed that Latino community members who were scheduled for municipal court were being treated differently than others. Specifically, Latinos overwhelmingly appeared for court in-person while other races appeared more evenly between in-person and virtual court appearances. Judge Witcher tried on more than one occasion to get court staff to correct the perceived scheduling bias but to no avail. Refusing to be a silent bystander to such obvious discrimination, went on the record and stating that what appeared to be happening was “the most discriminatory event I have ever been a part of in my entire career”. With Judge Witcher’s position of authority at-risk, the NAACP New Jersey State Conference and the Puerto Rican Action Committee of Southern NJ demand accountability and equal justice under the law. Judge Witcher deserves better for trying to right a wrong. The community deserves better so members of the Latino community are treated fairly and equally as others.