On Saturday, December 14, 2024, CNY Central reported that Syracuse judge Felicia Pitts Davis recused herself from all criminal cases involving the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. This decision follows a public statement by District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick, who labeled her actions as “bigotry” and announced that they would be investigated by a grand jury.
The controversy arose after an incident on November 16, when Judge Pitts Davis officiated a wedding for a heterosexual couple but walked out during the ceremony of a same-sex couple, Shawntay and Nicorra Davis. The couple described the situation as uncomfortable and disheartening, leading to another judge stepping in to complete their wedding.
Fitzpatrick expressed concerns regarding Pitts Davis’s ability to handle cases involving LGBTQ individuals, emphasizing the need to protect his staff, some of whom identify as gay. He indicated that the judge’s previous actions warranted scrutiny, particularly in cases that might involve members of the LGBTQ community.
As a result of these developments, Judge Pitts Davis will now focus solely on civil cases, having officially requested to recuse herself from any criminal proceedings involving the District Attorney’s Office. This request was approved by the Administrative Judge for the Fifth Judicial District, Hon. Deborah H. Karalunas. Al Baker, a spokesperson for the Office of Court Administration (OCA), confirmed that the recusal was made to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Fitzpatrick’s public commentary also mentioned that Pitts Davis was already in the process of being reassigned from her role in the Human Trafficking Intervention Court, a topic he discussed during an appearance on the local podcast “The Jim Reith Show Unleashed.”
Source: CNY Central
