I woke up early today to a text message on the sad news that Rep. Elijah Cummings (D. MD) passed early this morning. Elijah was a husband to Maya Rockeymoore, father, brother, lawmaker and friend to many persons, including myself. Just about everyone in Baltimore has an Elijah Cummings story. I am no exception. Many persons call Rep. Cummings by first name as he gave the impression that he was everyone’s friend. For this article, I will refer to him as I knew him—simply as Elijah. I first met Elijah when I graduated from law school. I didn’t know lawyers with whom I could seek advice. I personally didn’t know any lawyers. Elijah was a family friend who agreed to meet with me to discuss preparing for the Maryland bar exam and on becoming a lawyer. I expected it to be a one- time meeting. However, it turned into a lifetime of mentorship to me. He assisted me with tips on taking and passing the bar exam. I believe that due to his mentorship, I passed the Maryland bar on the first try. … [Read more...] about My Tribute on the Passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings
Archives for 2019
Atatiana Jefferson Deserves Justice
The murder of Atatiana Jefferson, cut me through the core. It was the most recent killing of an African American by a white police officer while relaxing in her Forth Worth, Texas home playing video games with her 8 year- old nephew. I had hardly recovered from the trial of Amber Guyger murdering Botham Jean in his Dallas home when this incident occurred. In the early morning hours on October 5, a police officer, now fired, went to Jefferson’s home to do a wellness check at the bequest of her neighbor. Instead of checking on her well-being, the officer shot her to death. If the officer had been a drug dealer or a burglar peering through her window and firing at her, it would be considered an assassination. I consider the cowardly act of this police officer to be an assassination of an innocent young woman, not yet 30 years old. We can’t continue to have black lives taken at the hands of trigger- happy police who fear African Americans. There must be accountability both before an … [Read more...] about Atatiana Jefferson Deserves Justice
N.Y. Judge Orders Release of Trump Tax Returns
A federal judge rejected Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from an investigation surrounding a subpoena for his tax returns from 2011 to the present. It may be the beginning of the end of Trump’s denials on releasing his tax returns. During the 2016 presidential campaign and afterwards, Trump asserted that an IRS audit prevented him from releasing his tax returns. In September 2019, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance subpoenaed eight years of Trump’s tax returns prepared through his accounting firm. A Grand Jury sought the returns to ascertain whether Trump committed any violations of New York law in relation to 2016 hush money repayments stemming from the Stormy Daniels payments by former attorney Michael Cohen. Trump filed a lawsuit to block any actions to obtain his tax records, including the Grand Jury subpoena of his accounting firm and the Trump Organization. Trump’s asserts that as president of the U.S., absolute immunity prevents any criminal investigations … [Read more...] about N.Y. Judge Orders Release of Trump Tax Returns
SCOTUS May End Abortion, DACA and LGBTQ Rights
The Supreme Court announced that it will hear several controversial and highly political cases during its upcoming term. These cases include abortion rights, employment rights for LGBTQ persons, immigration rights under “DACA” (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and gun rights/gun control. In weighing the outcomes on these issues, the Supreme Court may vote along political party lines. Trump’s nominations and appointment of Justices Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the conservative block may determine the fate of these issues. The justices will hear a Louisiana abortion case as the first case among the recent conservative abortion restriction cases—in the early 2020 term. Among the many recent conservative/restrictive abortion laws passed, it will be the first test abortion test case to be decided with the all new majority of Supreme Court conservative justices appointed by Trump. The Louisiana law would require that a doctor performing an abortion have admitting privileges to a … [Read more...] about SCOTUS May End Abortion, DACA and LGBTQ Rights
Felicity Huffman is the Ultimate Case of White Privilege
As a former prosecutor, when I saw that Felicity Huffman received a sentence of 250 hours of community sentence, 14 days jail time, a $30,000 fine and one year’s probation for paying $15,000 to Rick Singer to boost her daughter’s SAT test scores for college entrance, I was outraged but not surprised. Huffman knowingly admitted to paying Singer. She knew her actions were wrong and illegal. Her case was part of the largest college scandal case in history prosecuted by the Justice Department. Actress Lori Loughlin decided to enter a plea of not guilty. She paid $500,000.00 to advance her daughter’s college entrance. Her case is pending. After today’s sentencing, Loughlin may breathe a sigh of relief. White defendants and particularly white celebrity defendants most always get a break in court sentencing. A one -month sentence recommendation by prosecutors is usually never heard of. As a former prosecutor, I recall a minimum jail sentence recommendation by prosecutors is … [Read more...] about Felicity Huffman is the Ultimate Case of White Privilege
Alabama’s Abortion Laws Have No Place in America
An Alabama grand jury indicted Marshae Jones, a 27-year old black woman, with manslaughter for allegedly starting and getting into a fight for which she was shot. The gunshot resulted in the death of her unborn baby. Alabama prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine if they should pursue the charges. Every prosecutor’s office has discretion to determine which cases are brought and charged—regardless of a grand jury indictment. The fact remains that a prosecutor went before a grand jury seeking the charges, in the first place. Alabama recently passed restrictive abortion laws which subject a woman to jail time for receiving an abortion and doctors up to 99 years in jail for performing an abortion. Ultimately, the law or similar ones recently passed in other states may end up at the Supreme Court. America – are you listening? Alabama’s barbaric abortion law should be a wake -up call with sirens blasting for every woman and every man who has a wife, mother, sister, daughter or … [Read more...] about Alabama’s Abortion Laws Have No Place in America