Feds Arrest Black Judge, Demand Proof of Citizenship — She Fights Back, Jury Awards $8.3M

The courthouse parking garage is typically a place of normalcy for Judge Diane Richardson, a federal judge with 23 years of experience on the bench. But on an ordinary day in the fall of 2023, her routine was violently interrupted in an encounter that would go on to challenge the very integrity of federal immigration enforcement. The agents who detained her didn’t knock. They didn’t announce themselves. They simply surrounded her car, demanding that she prove she belonged in America. And when they realized who she truly was, their failure was monumental.

Judge Richardson, tired after a grueling day presiding over complex securities fraud cases, found herself facing something far more dangerous than legal wrangling: a systemic flaw in law enforcement that would eventually cost the government a staggering $8.3 million. The tragic irony was that the agents’ assumption about her citizenship was based solely on her appearance and not the considerable power she wielded as a federal judge.

The Encounter: Racial Profiling in Action

On that fateful afternoon, Judge Richardson sat in her modest sedan, her briefcase filled with confidential case files sitting in the passenger seat. She was preparing to leave the courthouse parking garage, a space she had used thousands of times over the years. However, as she pulled out, she was suddenly surrounded by three federal agents, their tactical gear making it clear they were from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The lead agent, a man in his mid-30s, aggressively tapped on her window, demanding identification and proof of citizenship. While it would have been easy for Richardson to comply, she made a deliberate choice not to. As an American citizen, she knew she wasn’t required to carry proof of citizenship. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and what the agents were asking for was a violation of those rights.

When she asked what reasonable suspicion they had to stop her, their response was a vague, nonspecific claim: they had received reports of suspicious activity, and she “matched a description.” No further details were provided, and no tangible evidence was given to back up their claims. Judge Richardson knew in that moment that this was not a routine immigration check—it was racial profiling.

Escalating Tensions: The Arrest and Humiliation

Despite her calm insistence on invoking her constitutional rights, the situation quickly escalated. When Judge Richardson refused to exit the vehicle, the second agent opened her car door and physically removed her. Despite her protests that she was a sitting federal judge, the agents dismissed her claims as false, assuming that no Black woman could possibly hold such a high position in the U.S. legal system.

The agents proceeded to handcuff her right there, in the very parking garage where she had parked for over two decades. This was no ordinary arrest. The handcuffs were placed around wrists that had signed countless judicial orders, made landmark rulings, and upheld constitutional rights—yet now those same rights were being violated by those entrusted with enforcing the law.

The Violation of Rights: A Breach of Confidentiality

As if the arrest weren’t enough, the agents proceeded to search her briefcase and personal property without her consent. Confidential court documents, attorney-client communications, and sealed files were all exposed. The agents rifled through everything in her possession, violating her rights as a judge, and compounding their mistakes.

When they finally located her judicial credentials, one of the agents suggested they were “probably fake,” claiming that people frequently impersonate federal officials. But the truth was undeniable—Judge Richardson was a sitting federal judge. The fact that they questioned her credentials was a direct result of racial bias, further proving that she had been targeted not for any wrongdoing, but for simply existing as a Black woman in a position of power.

The Road to Justice: Filing the Lawsuit

After being held for hours, Judge Richardson was eventually released, but the trauma from the incident was far from over. She knew that this egregious violation of her rights could not be allowed to stand. The agents’ behavior was not a mistake—it was part of a larger pattern of racial profiling and systemic failures in immigration enforcement.

With the help of civil rights attorney Katherine Moss, Judge Richardson filed a lawsuit against the three ICE agents involved in her detainment, as well as their supervisors and the federal government itself. The lawsuit focused on Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment violations, including false imprisonment, racial profiling, and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The case garnered national attention, as a sitting federal judge took legal action against the very system that had failed her. The government’s initial response was to claim “qualified immunity” for the agents, a legal defense often used to shield law enforcement officers from liability. However, Judge Richardson’s legal team, led by Moss, made it clear that the agents had violated clearly established constitutional rights.

The Verdict: $8.3 Million and Accountability

After months of legal battles, a jury awarded Judge Richardson a settlement of $8.3 million—$1.4 million in compensatory damages and $6.9 million in punitive damages. The settlement was not just a victory for Judge Richardson, but for all those who had suffered from similar instances of racial profiling and unlawful detentions.

The settlement also brought immediate changes to ICE’s practices. The three agents involved in the detainment were fired, and the government implemented new training programs and policies aimed at preventing such incidents in the future. While the financial settlement was significant, it was the systemic changes that mattered most.

The Ripple Effect: Change in the Legal Landscape

Judge Richardson’s case did not end with her personal victory. The lawsuit exposed a disturbing pattern of unlawful detentions, racial profiling, and systemic abuse within federal immigration enforcement. It became a rallying cry for civil rights organizations and legal advocates, who used the case as a precedent for challenging future violations.

The legal clinic funded by Judge Richardson’s settlement money quickly became a resource for others who had been wrongfully detained by ICE. Hundreds of cases were filed, and many were settled, forcing the government to pay millions in damages. The financial impact on ICE was staggering, with settlements, legal fees, and policy changes adding up to more than $12 million. The once-dismissed issue of unlawful detentions became a financial and political burden, forcing change in ways that moral arguments alone could not.

A Legacy of Accountability

Judge Richardson’s case demonstrated that when individuals fight back against injustice, change is possible. Her decision to stand up for her rights not only led to a significant financial settlement, but also sparked a series of reforms within immigration enforcement. Through her persistence, Judge Richardson forced the government to confront its failures, and she created a legacy of accountability that continues to shape the legal landscape today.

Though Judge Richardson never sought personal fame or recognition for her actions, her case became a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights. It showed that one person’s refusal to accept unlawful treatment can lead to meaningful change, creating a path for future generations to challenge systemic injustice. Her story is a testament to the power of documentation, litigation, and the relentless pursuit of justice.