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The ABA Journal has posted video of retired Jefferson Kentucky Circuit Judge Martin McDonald insulting, threatening, interrupting, and belittling an apparently respectful attorney.  Even if joking, the judge’s threat to “strangle” defense counsel is astounding.  Although the entirety of the circumstances may not be revealed in these clips, the judge’s behavior is well out of bounds (the open robe, unbuttoned shirt, and loose tie, do not help to make the judge appear any more sagacious).  The judge’s behavior is consistent with a 2004 review by the Louisville Bar Association which ranked Judge McDonald dead last among Jefferson Circuit judges in every category, including being more than twenty points behind the next lowest judge in legal ability.