Posts in category "Making a Difference in Durham"
End Racial Profiling in Durham Now
For years I have represented young black male and Hispanic drivers who describe being stopped for no good reason, and searched without result. One of my clients was TASERed for refusing to extinguish his cigarette after he was stopped for what a judge later determined was no legitimate reason. (http://www.unc.edu/~fbaum/papers/Trial_Briefs_Ian_Mance_2012.pdf ) These people feel like victims of a bully that they cannot stand up to. I have long fought racial profiling as a disease in our beloved community. People should not be treated like criminals, targeted for investigation, because of the color of their skin. It is humiliating.
Racial profiling has … read more »
Lessons of Violence from a Criminal Defense Lawyer
I have the opportunity to talk with Mayor Bill Bell about his idea to reduce gun violence by setting bonds in gun cases to $300,000. Last week we had two homicides in three days. Mayor Bell wants to send a clear message to perpetrators of violence that we are serious about ending violence. I applaud Mayor Bell for keeping this issue on the forefront of our minds; but, I disagree with his approach. This opportunity to talk about violence in Durham has required me to try to articulate some of the lessons I have learned about violence in Durham.
The Lessons … read more »
Increasing Bonds? The Solution to Gun Violence? Really?
I’ve read recently that Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Durham County Commissioners Chairman Michael Page both support increasing bonds for people charged with gun violence as a way to reduce violence in Durham. These recurring suggestions that “getting tough on crime” and increasing punishment will deter crime are out of touch with the causes of crime in our community. Political leaders serious about reducing crime should be talking about living wage jobs programs, counseling, education, training, and intensive mentorship programs. Our local “criminals” are mostly kids who have been abandoned by their families and by our community. They have been … read more »
The Ethics of Mudslinging in Court – What is Next for Durham Courts?
I have received a lot of support for my last blog asking Tracey Cline to resign, and appreciate that support. Since then, I have been weighing the serious allegations of ethical misconduct that have been lodged against Ms. Cline. In this blog I take a closer look at the ethical ramifications of making false statements in filings, failing to notify opposing parties of motions, and making false statements against a judge which impugn the integrity or qualifications of that judge. And I look at what may be next for our Courts.
False Filings and Going Behind Someone’s Back
Ms. Cline has been … read more »
