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Federal judge discloses his 'stupid little trial' remark after realizing juror may have heard it

A federal judge admitted a “faux pas” last Wednesday after realizing a juror may have witnessed it.

U.S. District Judge Frederic Block of Brooklyn told lawyers he realized too late that the juror may have heard him tell another federal judge that he was presiding in a “stupid little trial,” the New York Daily News reports in an exclusive story. The case was a discrimination suit by a restaurant worker who claimed co-workers called him a “smelly Bangladeshi bum” and that a chef sexually harassed him.

Block was in a nonpublic hallway behind the courtroom when he made the remark. The New York Daily News quoted from a transcript.

“I just was walking out using the facilities in the hall,” Block explained in court. “Judge [Jack] Weinstein’s chambers are right next to mine, and [he] says, ‘How are you?’ and I said, ‘I’m OK, I’m doing a little stupid trial.’ ”

“Unbeknownst to me, Juror No. 2 might have heard me say that,” Block said.

“I’m sorry,” the plaintiff’s lawyer interjected. “What was said?”

“I said I have a stupid little trial,” Block responded.

At that point, the juror who may have heard the remark was brought into the courtroom and admitted he had indeed heard the comment. He said he had not mentioned what he heard to the other jurors.

The juror was removed, and the remaining jurors found for the defendant restaurant after deliberating for only 15 minutes, the story says.