New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill just before Christmas that would have made it easier for people who have pleaded guilty to crimes to challenge their convictions, Maysoon Kahn reports for the Associated Press. The bill would have expanded the types of evidence that could be considered proof of innocence, including video footage or evidence of someone else confessing to a crime and would have allowed consideration for arguments that a person was coerced into a false … Read the rest
Probation and pretrial services officers collaborate with their community to help people under supervision fully reintegrate themselves into society. Highlighting how probation and pretrial offices and their community partners are stronger together is the goal of this year’s National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week.
Judiciary News – United States Courts
Judge Mary M. Rowland came out in the 1980s, as the HIV epidemic gave rise to a renewed anti-LGBTQ movement across America. In recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month, a new video profile explores Rowland’s experience coming out, her pursuit of a career in law, and the social change she has seen.
Judiciary News – United States Courts
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced charges for 21 individuals for their roles in transnational money laundering networks on Wednesday.
U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston of the Eastern District of Texas and other law enforcement officials announced “Operation Crypto Runner,” an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation into transnational cryptocurrency money laundering networks that transfer fraud proceeds from victims in the United States to foreign criminal organizations.
“These defendants orchestrated highly organized and sophisticated … Read the rest
Photo by Sal Falk via Flickr
Black people are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of a serious offense, including murder, than white people, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Registry of Exonerations.
In addition, Black people fall victim to police misconduct at a greater rate and experience longer prison times before exoneration, the report found.
The study, which analyzes exonerations for murder, sexual assault and drug crimes since 1989, highlights drug crime exonerations as … Read the rest
Donald was first incarcerated when he was just seven years old.
A poor kid with an under-resourced single mother, Donald was first kicked out of kindergarten for throwing tantrums. Two years later, after accidentally starting a fire while playing in a neighbor’s basement, Donald was held responsible for arson.
He spent the next eight years in juvenile detention centers, where outbursts were met with physical violence, including a beating that left him in a coma for days.
When he was … Read the rest
Judge Ada Brown is the first woman of African American heritage to serve as a district judge in the Northern District of Texas, in the over 140-year history of the court. She also is one of just a handful of individuals with Native American ancestry to ever become a federal judge. Inspiration from her mentors, and seeing others with similar backgrounds do great things, encouraged Brown to dream big.
Judiciary News – United States Courts