Texas attorney files complaint against female federal judge who claimed he was 'intimidated' by 'black excellence,' has 'white privilege

In April, US District Judge Ada Brown summoned attorney Ezra Young for a show cause hearing on whether he should face sanctions, months after she revoked his ability to practice in her courtroom. During the court of the hearing, Brown, who is black with Native American ancestry, accused Young, who is Latino, of have “white privilege” and being “intimidated” by “black excellence,” per Bloomberg.

Brown said during the hearing, “I think what’s happening here, quite candidly, is you are very intimidated for some reason, Mr. Young, with black excellence, in light of your white mediocrity. Yeah. Right? You should write that down. I mean, you — I’m — you look like a white man, right?”

Young replied, “I’m not white, Your Honor,” adding that he’s Latino.

“Well, you are white-presenting; is that fair to say?” Brown said.

Young said that he’s “fair-skinned,” and Brown claimed that Young has “white privilege” when he argued that his client had not received key evidence.

“You’re the white savior, come to save all the stupid black lawyers in Texas who need your help, from New York,” Brown later said.

Brown also implied during the hearing that Young had fabricated a quote in the case, and indicated that she had gone through Young’s social media profiles, suggesting that the attorney may be tracking her on social media.

Young had been representing a black female professor who sued after being denied tenure. Young had joined the case in 2022. He has had tense interactions with Brown over the course of the proceedings, with Brown twice issuing orders raising whether Young should face penalties.

Young told the outlet that he had sought guidance from others, including a senior judge on the Second Circuit, after becoming concerned about earlier conduct by Brown in the case. That Second Circuit judge reported Brown’s conduct to the Fifth Circuit.

In the April hearing, Young suggested that Brown may be retaliating against him for discussing his concerns about her conduct with the Fifth Circuit. Brown denied any knowledge of the matter.

Young filed a formal complaint against Brown shortly after the hearing, saying that he believed Brown may be suffering from a mental health condition. A judicial investigation was subsequently launched, leading to Brown temporarily losing her docket earlier in October. Brown has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination.

Brown, in a 76-page response in July, denied having a mental health issue and denied that her actions were inappropriate. She admitted that her handling of discussions on race might have been handled “more delicately.” She said she believed Young exhibited “concerning behavior towards black lawyers, and women that he does not exhibit to white men.”