In search of justice

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have done a lot to undercut the pervasive perspective of police as community protectors. Most of mainstream America now sees that their vision of policing is not everyone’s experience. This is huge and it could not have been accomplished without the social movements,” West says. Because of that shift, police departments are now looking at their procedures, talking about implicit biases, beginning to grapple with some systemic changes. “And it’s not courts that are making them do that—it’s more organic. Probably, that’s a good thing,” West says. “The law is at its core a deeply reactionary and conservative institution and tends to be uncomfortable getting out in front of social change. And anyway, social change is most secure when it happens through evolving social norms rather than through mandates.” On Capitol Hill, a recently launched Bipartisan Working Group between the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the House Judiciary Committee is pursuing legislative and non-legislative solutions to “what we see happening around the country and also in an effort to find a path forward on overarching criminal justice reform,” says CBC Policy Director Kendra Brown JD’12. Working with a variety of civil rights groups and nonprofits, Brown says there is a strong likelihood that Congress will move forward on criminal justice reform. “I know that certain bills have moved through the judiciary committee and have passed markup. As we move forward with criminal justice reform, there is a lot of bipartisan energy looking at what needs to be considered, what are the issues that cut across all of our communities, where are the areas that we know we can find common ground. Everyone really understands that this is a time when we need to act.” But Brown is quick to add that there are many different areas that need attention. “So many statistics show, unfortunately, in many key areas African Americans are not doing well and that really needs to be addressed.” Brown cites an extensive report that shows many black communities are hurting compared to other demographics, including in access to wealth, employment, education, health, and incarceration. “Over the years, certain policies have had a disparate impact on African Americans and that’s why when BLM started a majority of Americans didn’t understand,” Brown says. “With the murder of Trayvon Martin there was an overwhelming sense that in the grand scheme of things African American lives did not and were not receiving the attention and the same level of commitment that others were receiving. When you have Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner—and that is just three— you have all these individuals that have been killed and then it seems as if there is no accountability? It makes one feel as if my life may not count and matter as much as someone else’s. Now people in our nation are starting Jay Mallin LOQUITUR 24
'The problem is bigger than a couple of bad apples. The real culprit is biased procedures and systems.' KENDRA BROWN JD'12, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL. to understand, taking another look and saying, ‘Let me see if I can change my perspective and fully understand why African Americans feel this way.’ She credits BLM. “What BLM has helped to do is really illuminate the impact of some of the policies that over the years have led to the numbers of minorities being incarcerated.” The CBC is also focused on recommendations set forward by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Brown says Barack Obama is issuing a record number of pardons because he understands the many roadblocks the formerly incarcerated face when reentering society. “I really think BLM has helped to infuse a sense of pride, a sense of my life matters, I matter,” Brown says. “I am not a statistic, I am a living, breathing individual, and I matter. They have helped to infuse that reflective component into all that we do.” James Moreno JD’88/MSEL’93 is an assistant federal defender in the Federal Community Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He represents individuals awaiting trial on capital charges and those individuals who have been convicted and sentenced to death. His office handles cases in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. Moreno has been doing capital work for almost 24 years and says race is a constant factor. “I have a lot of experience watching how race plays a role in who gets charged, who their lawyers are, and how the criminal justice system has pretty strong bias against people of color.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 25 WINTER 2016/2017
Page 1 and 2: WINTER 2016/2017 THE ALUMNI MAGAZIN
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS Spinning the Barrel Firear
Page 6 and 7: Rob Bossi OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT A
Page 8 and 9: DISCOVERY USDA FUNDING FOR FOOD WOR
Page 10 and 11: DISCOVERY ALUMNUS TAKES ON WALMART
Page 12 and 13: LOQUITUR 10 Adobe Stock
Page 14 and 15: North East Gun Shows puts on about
Page 16 and 17: CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN ALBUQUERQUE. T
Page 18 and 19: The (Public) Defense Rests. Voices
Page 20 and 21: Chris Middleton's office is spartan
Page 22 and 23: “When we sit with our clients, th
Page 24 and 25: The Movement for black lives in a r
Page 28 and 29: A Delaware judge recently displayed
Page 30 and 31: 'People are beginning to accept tha
Page 32 and 33: Photo courtesy of Amanda George-Whe
Page 34 and 35: COP TO COURTROOM ALEX MANNING HOLDS
Page 36 and 37: JD/MELP’10 Tim Fair ADDICT TO ATT
Page 38 and 39: Anna JD’85 Saxman ANNA SAXMAN GOT
Page 40 and 41: LOQUITUR 38 Barnum Photography
Page 42 and 43: CLASS NOTES NEWS FROM THE DC REGION
Page 44 and 45: CLASS NOTES 1991 Peg Stolfa margare
Page 46 and 47: CLASS NOTES ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT JEN DU
Page 48 and 49: CLASS NOTES 2006 Ashley Carson Cott
Page 50 and 51: CLASS NOTES Norris, on Father’s D
Page 52 and 53: IN MEMORIAM Elizabeth Anne Leopold
Page 54 and 55: VERMONT ALBUM CONTRA DANCING DURING
Page 56 and 57: REPORT OF GIVING FY 2016 THE NEXT G
Page 58 and 59: REPORT OF GIVING FY 2016 DONOR LIST

In search of justice

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