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If you live in New Orleans, it can sometimes feel like there’s someone running for judge every other weekend. But hear me out - over a dozen criminal court judges will be on the ballot in November here... 1/
Historically, little attention has been paid to these races. As a result, most candidates run unopposed as incumbents or hand-picked by insiders.
Why should we pay attention this November? 2/
Why should we pay attention this November? 2/
The current system works only for the insiders who have a vested interest in locking up as many people as possible. 3/
Our criminal legal system does not bring justice. It does not make our community safer. Our system of mass incarceration is ineffective, costly, and wrong.
Together, we can fix it by electing candidates who'll help create systemic change. 4/
Together, we can fix it by electing candidates who'll help create systemic change. 4/
A fair and speedy trial is a fundamental right, yet today, *most* cases end in a plea bargain.
We need judges who won't use efficiency as an excuse to allow district attorneys to coerce someone to plead guilty and won't dangle the threat of a harsher sentence at trial. 5/
We need judges who won't use efficiency as an excuse to allow district attorneys to coerce someone to plead guilty and won't dangle the threat of a harsher sentence at trial. 5/
There are candidates who want to be part of the solution. Here are a few I'm personally excited about.
Angel Harris is challenging an incumbent to stop the criminalization of poverty and invest in alternatives to incarceration http://angelforjudge.com/ 6/
Angel Harris is challenging an incumbent to stop the criminalization of poverty and invest in alternatives to incarceration http://angelforjudge.com/ 6/
Meg Garvey is also challenging an incumbent. She’ll work to end the ineffective cycle of putting people in jail because they cannot afford fines - that's both illegal, and a waste of taxpayer dollars. https://www.meggarvey.com/ 7/
Flipping two incumbent seats sends a strong message that New Orleanians demand judges who will be fair, sensible, and restore faith in a system supposed to bring justice. 8/
Steve Singer is running for magistrate, the judge who sets bail when someone is arrested. He'll work to end the practice of setting money bonds at levels that force people to use for-profit bondsmen https://www.stevesingerforjudge.com/ 9/
In New Orleans, if you can't make bail, you may have to sit in jail for up to 60 days before you are even charged with an offense. While you wait for the prosecutor to decide, you may lose your job, you may be evicted from your home, you may lose custody of your children. 10/
And if you pay a bail-bondsmen to get out, you *never get that money back* - even if the charges are dropped, even if found not guilty. 11/
This leads too many to plead guilty simply to get out, and is devastating to families and communities, and only perpetuates poverty in a city that already has more than its fair share. 12/
Not only is Nandi Campbell committed to transparency and equity, she'll also lead the bench in reworking how court appearances are scheduled to decrease inefficient wait time https://www.nandicampbell.com/ 13/
Tenee Felix is running for juvenile court. Let kids be kids. https://teneeforjudge.com/ 14/
We don't have to take Graham Bosworth's word for it - he's already shown his commitment to reform when he was appointed an interim judge a few years ago -let's get him back on the bench https://www.bosworthforjudge.com/ 15/
Derwyn Bunton is running for judge because he knows incarceration is not the answer to poverty, mental illness and violence in our community. https://www.derwynbunton.com/ 16/
Consider joining me in supporting these incredible humans - donate to their campaigns, follow them on social, post a lawn sign or two or seven, and most importantly, tell your friends not to overlook all of these "down ballot" races on November 3 ... 17/
If you're like me, you usually text a friend (probably the one who's a lawyer, right?) the morning of an election to ask which judges to vote for. This year, let's all be that friend who's in the know. 18/18
