E. Curtissa R. Cofield is an African-American state judge in Hartford, Connecticut, who was arrested on a drunk driving charge on October 9, 2008. During her arrest, she used racial epithets against a black state police sergeant, comments which were caught on video.Hartford Courant: Probe Sought Against Judge Who Allegedly Used Racial Epithet (November 25, 2008)

On November 25, 2008, the co-chairman of the state legislature's judiciary committee called for a full review of the allegations with regard to Cofield's statements.Hartford Courant: Probe Sought Against Judge Who Allegedly Used Racial Epithet (November 25, 2008)

According to police records, Cofield was driving her BMW X35 on the eastbound lanes of Route 2 at about 11:00 pm on October 9, 2008. She drove into the construction zone and struck the trooper's cruiser, a 2005 Crown Victoria, which was parked on the shoulder. Early reports said that no one was injured in the incident; but Trooper Kowal has since reported neck and back injuries.Baltimore Sun: Judge Appears As Defendant At Hearing (October 28, 2008) Hartford Courant: Connecticut judge's DUI case postponed (November 24, 2008)

Cofield was taken to the police station in Glastonbury where she was charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive in the proper lane. There, her racist comments were captured on the police station's monitoring system.Hartford Courant: Probe Sought Against Judge Who Allegedly Used Racial Epithet (November 25, 2008)