While he wore a ”Make America Great Again” hat in court the day after Donald Trump won the U.S. election, a Hamilton judge says he has ”profound regret” over what he did, is not a Trump supporter, and was only trying to make people laugh.
(John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator)
Justice Bernd Zabel also told a four-person disciplinary panel in Toronto Wednesday though wearing the hat would appear to show support, he was ”gloating” over correctly predicting Trump could win.
Eighty-one people complained to the Ontario Judicial Council after Zabel wore the hat in Hamilton court last November 9 and the 27-year-old veteran judge stopped hearing cases in December.
Sixty-two letters of support were submitted to the panel which praised his ethics.
With the hearing complete, the panel can dismiss the complaints or warn, reprimand or suspend Zabel with or without pay for up to 30 days.
It can also recommend to the attorney general to remove him from office.
No timetable has been set for when a decision will be released.