A man from New York, USA, who filed an age discrimination lawsuit against a youth orchestra, has complained that the judge presiding over his case is too old.
Martin Stoner, 60, wanted to play violin in a competition run by not-for-profit company Young Concert Artists aimed at young musicians aged between 19 to 26.
Mr Stoner recently lost his job with the New York City Ballet Orchestra and decided to enter the competition, which offered £46,000 worth of career support as a prize.
When Mr Stoner threatened legal action against the not-for-profit organisation, they allowed him to enter the first round of the competition, but according to the organisation's director, his performance was "less than stellar".
In March this year, Mr Stoner filed his suit, but the case was thrown out by 88-year-old Judge Robert Patterson after he found mistakes in Mr Stoner's court briefs.
In response, Mr Stoner requested a new judge. He complained that "Judge Patterson could barely see unless he put his face almost on top of a document."
He said: "Judge Patterson should be removed from the bench, both because of his mental and physical limitations.
"With all due respect, he may have been a very learned jurist in his day."
He added: "I know it sounds kind of like hypocrisy. I asked the judge to recuse himself on the grounds that he's too old. Isn't that ironic?"
Judge Patterson, who wears a hearing aid, often asks lawyers to speak up in court while he cups his hand to his ear. However, people have claimed that he is "as sharp as a tack".
Related links:
Read more on the story (New York Daily News)
Read about age discrimination (FindLaw)
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