Free to speak, stop-and-frisk judge claims some victories
Tossing the gavel aside, feisty Judge Shira Scheindlin is speaking out, declaring victory over critics in the battle over police stop-and-frisk tactics and telling why she thinks the government spoiled its chance at conviction in four trials of John “Junior” Gotti.
Scheindlin, 69, ended a 25-year career on the bench Friday to join a law firm, hoping to find public interest work to improve things like prison reform, voting rights and medical care.
She says she isn’t leaving the lifetime appointment because of controversy, like her handling of stop-and-frisk litigation.
“Am I walking out mad? No. No,” she says.