update deskAntisemitism

California judge accused of repeatedly calling public defender ‘Jew boy’

Gregory Kreis, a Humboldt County Superior Court judge, denies the allegations, which include sexual harassment and substance abuse.

A judge's gavel. Credit: Corgarashu/Shutterstock.
A judge's gavel. Credit: Corgarashu/Shutterstock.

California’s Commission on Judicial Performance is investigating Gregory Kreis, a judge on the Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka, Calif., for Jew-hatred, among other charges.

The judge, who is up for reelection, is alleged to have repeatedly called a public defender “Jew boy,” among 18 other counts in the complaint, including sexual harassment.

At a 2019 event during which the judge “appeared to be intoxicated,” he told Rory Kalin, then a deputy public defender, that “he looked Jewish, called him ‘Jewboy’ to his face, in front of his wife, and laughed or smiled each time you made the remark,” according to the complaint.

Also in Kalin’s presence, the judge allegedly “said to Stefanie Kalin, ‘I don’t even know why you’re married to this Jewboy,’ or words to
that effect,” the complaint adds. The judge is also accused of pushing Rory Kalin, who was fully dressed, into the water from on a boat and of referring to him in a conversation with Stefanie Kalin as her “girlfriend.”

The complaint alleges that the judge also used the term “Jew boy” at least once in 2016.

Three days after the event on the boat, the public defender appeared before the judge in court in 10 cases, and the judge didn’t disclose their social interaction.

The judge has called the allegations “outright lies.” He has also claimed that witnesses on the boat saw no antisemitism.

You have read 3 articles this month.
Register to receive full access to JNS.

Just before you scroll on...

Israel is at war. JNS is combating the stream of misinformation on Israel with real, honest and factual reporting. In order to deliver this in-depth, unbiased coverage of Israel and the Jewish world, we rely on readers like you. The support you provide allows our journalists to deliver the truth, free from bias and hidden agendas. Can we count on your support? Every contribution, big or small, helps JNS.org remain a trusted source of news you can rely on.

Become a part of our mission by donating today
Topics
Comments
Thank you. You are a loyal JNS Reader.
You have read more than 10 articles this month.
Please register for full access to continue reading and post comments.