Racial Justice Act New Repeal Bill Placed on Fast Track

C    A    R    O    L     I    N    A  JUSTICE POLICY CENTER   "Criminal Justice Advocacy since 1975"   Carolina Justice Policy Center ACTION ALERT   Racial Justice Act  New Repeal Bill Placed on Fast Track           RJA opponents appear to have realized that they did not have the votes to override their repeal of the Racial Justice Act, so they have created a new bill which does the very same thing – REPEALS THE RACIAL JUSTICE ACT.         Click here for the the new proposed committee substitute that will likely be heard and voted on by the full House of Representatives tomorrow.   Please attend the meeting at:                 Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2012               Time: 10 am               Place: 421 Legislative Office Building         TELL LEGISLATORS NOT TO BE FOOLED BY THIS NEW REPEAL BILL.  See .detailed talking points below.           Thank all Democrats -especially those listed below- who have supported the Racial Justice Act in the past and ask them to please continue to support it with no changes.    Rep. William D. Brisson (D-Bladen, Cumberland) 919-733-5772 or William.Brisson@ncleg.net Rep. Dewey L. Hill (D-Brunswick, Columbus) 919-733-5830 or Dewey.Hill@ncleg.net Rep. Timothy L. Spear (D-Chowan, Dare, Hyde, Washington) 919-715-3029 or Tim.Spear@ncleg.net Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr. (D-Granville, Vance) 919-733-5824 or Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net       Key Points About New Repeal Bill   ·       This new House bill is a REPEAL bill. It is not an amendment. It repeals the NC Racial Justice Act for everyone.   ·       Like the previous repeal bill that Governor Perdue vetoed, this bill does not change the law that existed before RJA, therefore it renders the Racial Justice Act meaningless.   ·       RJA is a nationally-recognized, historic piece of legislation that is gutted by this bill.   ·       On April 20, 2012, in the first evidentiary hearing under the NC Racial Justice Act, North Carolina Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks found significant racial bias in a North Carolina death penalty case, and resentenced Marcus Robinson to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.    ·       Judge Weeks concluded that the defendant "introduced a wealth of evidence showing the persistent, pervasive, and distorting role of race in jury selection throughout North Carolina.  The evidence, largely unrebutted by the State, requires relief in this case and should serve as a clear signal of the need for reform in capital jury selection proceedings in the future."   ·       This law attempts to nullify Judge Weeks’ ruling.   ·       In the face of documented racial bias, we must move forward to right these wrongs, not sweep them under the rug by repealing the NC Racial Justice Act.   ·       Therefore, this bill creates an unconstitutional and arbitrary death penalty scheme that discriminates against inmates based solely upon the speed at which the courts decided their claims.   ·       Victims and citizens of all races deserve justice untainted by race discrimination.   ·       Victims and all citizens deserve a court system that values all life regardless of race.   ·       RJA improved the quality of justice for victims and all citizens by addressing documented racial bias, the kind of racial bias that Judge Weeks confirmed in his ruling is tainting our system.  This bill would undo a critical safe guard against racial bias.         Please help us keep bringing you the information that will help you create and support equitable, humane and effective solutions to criminal justice problems in your own communities.      DONATE NOW         Find your State Legislator     North Carolina Prison Information & Inmate Search North Carolina Courts, Court Personnel & Court Calendars Find an Attorney Legal Assistance for Prisoners Legal Representation for Indigent Defendants Legal Representation for Capital Murder Defendants NC Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs & Addiction Treatment Center Justice Reinvestment – Council of State Governments (Data on other States looking at Reinvesting Justice Dollars) National Re-entry Policy Council The National Hire Network   June 4, 2012      In this Issue New RJA Repeal             . State & National Research Findings Pew’s 1 in 31 The Long Reach of American Corrections         CJPC Staff & Volunteers Lao E. Rubert Director   Nikki McDougald Program Associate   Gerald Taylor NCCU Intern       CJPC Board of Directors Dr. George P. Wilson, Sr. Chair of Board & NC Central University Professor of Criminal Justice   Linda Weisel Postconviction Attorney Dr. Peter H. Burian Duke University Classical Studies Professor Dr. Jarvis Hall NC Central University Civic Engagement Director Edd Gulati-Partee Self-Help Community Credit Union Information Technology Sheria Reid Institute of Government Policy Analyst    Jane Volland Attorney CJPC is a partner organization of the following: Blueprint NC Community Sentencing Association   HK on J Progressive Coalition for Social Change "A Movement Not a Moment"   North Carolina Center for Nonprofits   North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium on Executions Together NC   Contact Us!    Mailing Address: Post Office Box 309 Durham, NC 27702-0309   (919) 682-1149   www.justicepolicycenter.org             www.justicepolicycenter.org       ‘Criminal Justice Advocacy since 1975’

Forward email