Judge Tammy Kemp is asking for sympathy after she’s been slammed by basically everyone for hugging convicted murderer Amber Guyger AND giving her a bible.
Amber Guyger was convicted last week and sentenced to 10 years in prison for murdering Botham Jean in his own home.
Judge Kemp sat down for an interview and defended her decision to comfort the killer.
via NewsOne:
Speaking out Kemp said she thought it would be “rude” if she didn’t hug Guyger after hugging Jean’s family.e Kemp recalled to CNN that she told her: “‘Ms. Guyger — Mr. Jean has forgiven you. Please forgive yourself, so you can have a purposeful life.’ And she asked me, ‘Do you think my life can still have a purpose?’ And I said, ‘I know it can.’”
Kemp claims Guyger asked, “Do you think God will forgive me?” Kemp said yes and, according to the judge, Guyger added, “Well, I don’t even have a Bible. I don’t know where to begin.”
Kemp explained to CNN, “And that’s when I went to retrieve my Bible and gave it to her.” Kemp also said, “She did tell me she’d bring my Bible back in 10 years.”
Kemp also responded to the backlash by saying, “Frankly, I don’t think I would getting this criticism if Miss Guyger were a Black woman. I hate that we limit our compassion to one race.”
According to The Washington Post, legal experts said the hug was “not only rare but inappropriate.” Kenneth Williams, a professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, who has 30 years in legal practice told the Post, “She has indicated an affinity or sympathy for the defendant.”
President and Director-Counsel of LDF (NAACP Legal Defense and Educational) Sherrilyn Ifill wrote on Twitter, “A judge is not a an average citizen. She is not the victim. She is not the prosecution (technically ‘the peopl’). She must, especially in a case that arouses passion and conflict like this one, stand for impartial justice. She may speak words from the bench. This is too much.”
Give us a break.
