A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a hate crime charge against a Dubuque man accused of a racially motivated beating is constitutional.

Linda Reade, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, rejected the argument of Randy J. Metcalf’s attorney that claimed the hate crime statute is an unconstitutional exercise of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.

“... Congress rationally determined that racially motivated violence, irrespective of the particular races involved, is a badge of slavery,” Reade wrote.

Steve Young, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, said the office had no comment on the ruling. Melanie Keiper, attorney for Metcalf, could not be reached Wednesday for comment.