Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols repeatedly referred to two Black men as “thugs” during a bond hearing for one of them Tuesday, and ultimately ruled that she would not set the bond lower than $55,000.
“I’m going to be honest with you. I kind of want you to stay where you are for a bit,” Nichols told 18-year-old Micah McGill, who has been at the Flagler County jail since early July. He was arrested in connection with a double shooting at Beach Village Apartments last November that sent him and T.S.M., 23, to the hospital.
McGill claims he was defending his sister from T.S.M., who was his sister’s boyfriend, and who was beating his sister. T.S.M. pleaded to a misdemeanor count of domestic violence. The charge was dropped in spring when he completed a deferred prosecution agreement. T.S.M. was not in court Tuesday.
“I’m trying to figure out: Are you a thug, or are you a brother who was looking out for a sister, or both?” the judge asked McGill. “I can tell you by your demeanor right now, I think staying where you are is probably not a bad thing.”
The neutral definition of “thug” in standard dictionaries is of brutal ruffians or assassins. But the term, which Barack Obama used on occasion when he was president, has evolved into a racially charged dog whistle when whites use it in reference to Blacks, though it continues to be used unwittingly by whites not necessarily aware of the implication, as was likely the case in court Tuesday: Nichols is one of the most seasoned and respected judges in the circuit, dispensing wrath and dignity to defendants before her in equal measure, whatever their color. But Blacks hear that word (and certain other words) far differently than whites do, especially when spoken to them or about them by whites.
“The truth is that thug today is a nominally polite way of using the N-word. Many people suspect it, and they are correct,” the linguist and scholar John McWhorter told an interviewer in 2015. “When somebody talks about thugs ruining a place, it is almost impossible today that they are referring to somebody with blond hair. It is a sly way of saying there go those black people ruining things again. And so anybody who wonders whether thug is becoming the new N-word doesn’t need to. It most certainly is.”
McGill was originally arrested on three charges stemming from the Nov. 16 shooting in the apartment where he lives with his 21-year-old sister, two younger siblings (12 and 2) and his mother: Aggravated battery with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm by a delinquent, and firing a gun into a house. All are second-degree felonies. He was initially booked at the jail on $105,000 bond. The State Attorney’s Office has not filed the firing into a house charge. It still may. But by not filing it, that lowered the bond to $55,000 for now. McGill’s attorney had requested a hearing to reduce the bond.
The word is seldom if ever heard in court or in court documents, arrest reports or even law enforcement or politicians’ news releases. It appears to have been used only once in a release issued by Sheriff Rick Staly’s office (in early 2024, in reference to a Black suspect), and twice by Rick Scott in releases his offices issued the last 10 years–several times when he was governor and running for a U.S. Senate seat, all in reference to then-Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro “and his ruthless thugs,” and once as a senator running for re-election, in 2024, when he referred to lawyers prosecuting Donald Trump, before Trump’s conviction on 36 felonies, as “thugs.”
“While he has the four misdemeanors, one of them started out as a fleeing and eluding,” Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark told the judge. Fleeing and eluding is a felony charge. “We have a little pattern of behavior here that’s concerning, and then obviously he had access to a weapon, which was used in this case. So I have some concerns for him remaining law abiding. I think that with us only filing two charges, which would drop one of those bonds away, so it’s only 55,000, that’s more than reasonable under the circumstances.”
McGill’s mother asked to speak to the judge. The judge invited her up to the lectern. Before the mother spoke, the judge told her that her daughter should not have been with T.S.M., whom the family had known for 10 years, according to the mother.
“He shouldn’t be in the position of allegedly having to defend his sister from a thug, because thugs beat their girlfriends,” the judge said, “and from what it seems like, this isn’t the first time it’s happened to the young lady. So I have no ability to get her into some counseling. But she needs to figure out how not to be around guys like that.”
The mother told the judge that T.S.M. is no longer with her daughter. She was concerned about the grand theft charge: McGill had left home one night and taken her car. “To hold him accountable, I pressed charges on him, so that’s not like he was out and just stealing people’s cars,” McGill’s mother said. “That was me being a parent and attempting to hold him accountable for decisions that he was making at that time. As to now, he is attempting to do a lot better.” He had been awaiting his release from juvenile probation to join the Army.
The mother spoke as she stood next to Courtney Davison, her son’s assistant public defender.
The judge said those facts may work in his favor, if confirmed. “I have no problem with a brother defending his sister,” the judge said. “What I have a problem is with the young lady staying in a relationship like that, him being allowed to come into the home, and those individuals being in the home, and then the reaction instead of pulling somebody off is to shoot them. So we’ve got all kinds of problems in this case, and I’m going to let Ms. Clark and Ms. Davison look further into it. But I’m going to keep him where he is for a bit, so he can see if that’s the life that he wants to lead, is hanging out with people in orange out in jail or prison. So I think he’s where he needs to be. I think it’s kind of what you did before with the grand theft auto, is to give him a taste of it, because the juvenile system apparently wasn’t enough for him to get it. Because most people’s reaction isn’t to grab a firearm when they’re not supposed to possess one legally.”
McGill’s mother spoke on behalf of her son, describing him as very helpful with his youngest brother at home.
“First and foremost, keep thugs out of your house,” the judge told her.
T.S.M. wasn’t supposed to be there, the mother said, describing him as twice her son’s size.
“I don’t doubt for a second that he thought he was protecting his sister,” Nichols said. “But the way he handled it has landed him where he is, and I’m going to leave him where he is for a while. So it’s reduced from 105 to 55. But I’m going to tell you, save your money and let him sit there for a while.”
David S says
I would call those punks as well as thugs. They should be locked up for years.
JC says
But they are thugs because they are acting like one. Judge didn’t say anything wrong.
The riddler says
Flagler live staff, What do you know about the N Word ? Absolutely nothing because your white ! As a Black man the judge called it right they are thugs ! Thug is not the new N word either its actually Ninja. This is how disconnected you are from street slang smh.
You think just becasue your white you can speak for all blacks and thats BS. Stay in your lane as we can defend ourselves as black people on our own. Your white privlege is showing Flagler Live just report the news period, we dont need you to tell a race whats new or not. Smh …Judge keep up the good work with calling balls and strikes…They are thugs !!! if they want to loose the connetation change your life to being a good productive citizen !
The Geode says
Man… You are yelling at the clouds. I’ve been saying this exact thing on this site for years. They like to think they are helping us by coddling and patting us on the heads like pets. They refuse to realize that we are individuals who think freely and outside their perceived narratives. If they are Black, white, green, or purple, if they do thug shit – THEY’RE THUGS!
Cletus says
I’m relieved. Cuz for a second I thought you were cosplaying-commenting under the alias “Riddler” . But good to see Auntie/Uncle Ruckus is alive and kicking. Once again Geode. You come from the last county in the USA to willfully integrate and you still continue to play dumb. The problem with you “Stephens from Django” is you ignore precisely what the article was saying. Which is, that certain “Dog whistles” descriptions, labels’ and names are used as a broad brush to invoke. Even though you know this its deliberate you ignoramus’ can’t see past your nose and look at the big picture. Another case of self preservation.
The Geode says
Make up your mind. Am I “Uncle Ruckus” or “Stephen from Django”? I’m good with either of these. I know that intellectually inferior people have to resort to ad hominem attacks to bolster their vapid talking points. Only dogs hear “dog whistles”. I enjoy silence.
…oh yeah, I am all about self preservation. The rest of you “ignoramus” can’t be saved. LOL
Deborah Coffey says
Okay, you guys. We’d like a united front but then you’d better be really careful of the THUG that’s in our White House. He’s after every black skinned human he can find except for a couple that he’s figured out he can “use” for his own purposes. You may be yelling at all the wrong people; we know you’re not pets.
The Geode says
That’s really ironic because I only see a bunch of “non-black skinned” people complaining about OUR President. Where do you see mass protestors of “black skinned” people belly-aching about what’s going on? I only see YOU and your ilk. Our lives haven’t changed, no matter WHO the Commander in Chief is. Inflation? Affects ALL of us. Gas prices? Affects ALL of us. Everything else is minutiae I can’t do anything about nor worry about. But I am curious, how is he after us specifically?
Cletus says
RIDDLER! Yeah, your one big question mark. The thing is, you probably aren’t even black. You ain’t defending anybody with your take on this article. What was provided here was spot on. Unfortunately, I knew before I even finished how it would be received. And Ding Dongs like you looking for a pat on the head wouldn’t know the first thing about the street or being/staying on code. As a matter of fact I guarantee none of your family were enslaved in the USA or went through the Jim Crow era.
With all the injustice historically meted out to black people, why would you have to come to the Judges defense as if Flaglerlive made this up. White people (White Supremacy) built the foundation of these things for a reason. (Richard Nixon/Henry Kissinger. They created the blueprint to speak in abstract ways or coded language deliberately. But you blame Flaglerlive??? Enjoy your life Officer Tatum. Back the Blue until it happens to you. LOL! I bet all these people criticizing Flaglerlive still think Patriots not THUGS invaded the capital on January 6th? Keep drinking the orange cool-aide, and popping the orange painkillers, anything to numb the hypocrisy that would force you to be truthful and empathetic.
The Riddler says
The diffrence between me and you ” Cletus ” is I came off the plantation years ago and I am 100 percent blacker than you !! Its apparent your still in the Plantation big house.
To you I say Yes Massa I is doing good!!! Have a great day smh. Do better !!!!
The Riddler says
This is the problem with some black people that try and punch above there pay grade smh. Living in the past like you are still in the Jim Crow Era and its 2026 ! Stop ! You are part of the problem blaming white people for all the bad things in your life, look in the mirror becuase its you ! I have no problem calling anyone one out no matter what race. I am black and blacker than you because I am a free thinker who is not defined by my past. You cant see past the white on your nose. Get off the Plantation Cletus its sunnier and nicer on this side. Acting like you are being whipped in your backyard right now smh. A Dam shame ! Wake up !
Brian says
Leave Judge Nichols alone – she is obviously spot on in her assessment of these individuals as THUGS. They have spent their lives earning the title.
Cletus says
For the life of me, I wish I had the ability to label and deflect as easily as our white brethren. I guarantee you can’t and won’t come up with similar descriptions for YOUR school shooters or rapist, molesting men. Keep hugging yourselves and falling for what you think makes YOU better than people with darker skin or those you see as your footstool.
The Riddler says
Come off the Plantation Cletus. Stop blaming white people for all the bad crap in your life. Look in the mirror its you ! The last time you were called the N word was by another black person, tell the truth. Stop lying to yourself, complaining and hold these thugs accountable or there bad behavior. Call them out as we see it. See Cletus your part of the problem come out into the light brethern.
Pogo says
I vote to retain the Honorable Judge Nichols.
Mr. Micah McGill:
I hope you live a long and useful life; and that you become as good a person as your mother.
A Long-time Reader and Supporter says
FlaglerLive,
You called this one wrong.
A Long-time reader and Supporter
Cletus says
That’s about WHITE!
A Long-time Reader and Supporter says
Cletus. Please stop the race-baiting. FlaglerLive focused on the word “thug” when they should have spent more words calling out the bad parenting.
Atwp says
Why call them thugs, why not young men. They used to call us a lot of demeaning names, especially African American Men. We were and probably still being called boys, monkeys, coons, gorillas, drug dealers, lazy people, sperm donating boys not taking care of their responsibilities. They called African American Women demeaning names also, sluts, nasty home makers, lazy and sorry. The judge calling the young men thugs isn’t surprising to me. We as African Americans should be used to that. Just saying. Just because they call us demeaning names don’t mean it is true. Just because they label me doesn’t mean I’m what they say I am. White People have been called demeaning names too, not as much as African Americans.
JimboXYZ says
I think when you shoot someone or beat a woman up, they lost any say in being offended for what the descriptors are to describe them. Sit in the courtroom for the trial, fabricate rationale for those actions. I get the younger one protecting his sister. But seriously, the 1st beatdown & she should’ve been done with that one. Like that white dude that was stalking & harassing the woman at the Red Roof Inn Motel. Who knows though, she tried to 304 up. I mean who gives a dude that looks like he does a spare key to her room ? Scary looking creeper at the very least. Hope they max his stay for the charges. Just another thug by a formal definition. It’s getting to the point where someone has to say “Thug” and add “no dog whistle” for the context. That way there are no misunderstandings ?
https://flaglerlive.com/aggravated-stalking/#comment-3707633
Doug says
White people who are acting like these two can be called “thugs” as well.
JimboXYZ says
According to the definition:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thug
“The word’s original and ongoing use to refer to criminals is still very much present in the culture at large, however, and use of thug by a white person to refer to a Black person is generally understood to lack the nuance the word carries when used by a Black person, and to instead be an offensive insinuation that a Black person can be assumed to be engaged in criminal behavior.
I think with the charges & the testimonies that conflict from each, the fact there’s a stolen gun here that nobody seems to want to come clean about who sold it to whom as a fenced stolen property. We have a GF domestic abuser/violence admission (4X by the brother & GF’s account) there is no assumption that either black male/person is assumed to be engaged in criminal behavior. Thug is an accurate description for the white version of the definition & that’s the context here, it’s a judge im a courtroom, she called balls & strikes & there’s no doubt, the strikes were right down the middle of the strike zone. These 2 are getting prison time, just a matter of how long & what the probation will be. A slam dunk for a pair of convictions. Feigning being offended is a pretty weak technicality to think that race card plays out favorably for charges being dropped or some immunity for what either faces for charges. This was to some extent a brother defending/protecting his sister. FCSO is there for that. If the sister didn’t end the relationship, she is a self inflicted victim. May even be involved in something else the two males have as criminal activity ? Falsigying information, obstructing the investigation, those are arrestable crimes as well.
Jeffery Cortland Seib says
Describing these suspects as thugs is not out of order. They are thugs. It seems Palm Coast is welcoming a different group of people to the city, and race has nothing to do with it. Plain and simple we don’t want this rather unseemly underbelly in our city. The animal abusers, gun fights in public places, drugs, it runs the whole gamut. Everyone has problems, but they are never solved or even made slightly better by violence against another human being, or animal. Throw the book at them.
FlaglerLocal says
Well, She isn’t wrong….it doesn’t matter what color they are, a Thug is a Thug, is a Thug.
The Sheeples Court says
Aren’t judges supposed to be impartial? Especially before any trial? Has he been convicted already before having a fair hearing?
Judges should rise above the fray. Set the better example for everyone in earshot. Stooping to the level of the acused with street slang is not their job and not what I would expect. This isn’t daytime tv court for ratings. Keep it professional and courteous no matter the heinous circumstances. That’s how we all progress as a society.
Linda says
I agree with you. When Judges resort to street talk, they lose my respect.
NJ says
WTF!! Thugs, Scumbags, Swine, A**holes, etc,etc. Just names for people acting unlawfully. More PROOF that Palm Coast is NOW a Big UGLY City!
Common Sense says
I’ll say it again you are all completely drunk on your own ideological Kool aid.
I don’t care if the topic is politics, schools, race, or all of them combined. Your comments on every article expose exactly how conditioned your thinking has become. You don’t analyze anything objectively. You don’t question your own beliefs. You simply repeat whatever your ideological tribe has programmed you to believe and then attack anyone who dares question it.
The saddest part is that you mistake blind loyalty for some type of intelligence. Self-righteousness and selfishness pollute every aspect of your lives.
Self validation has become a new social phenomenon. Whether is politics, social media or in our homes. Until you’re willing to question your selves as aggressively as you question everyone else’s, don’t pretend you’re interested.
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
If I were a public defender or hired defense lawyer, I might question this judge’s partiality when it comes to defendants that aren’t white.
Atwp says
If these young men were white or pale would it ok to call them thugs? Is it a term used to describe African Men when they do wrong or accused of doing wrong?
JC says
Of course Mr. Racist you are, if white people are acting like thugs they are thugs.