With the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13, President Obama has a chance to make a lasting legacy upon the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court is now split with four conservatives and four liberals. With a lifetime appointment, there is an opportunity to impact our country for generations. And I urge President Obama to nominate an African American woman to the highest Court of the U.S. I do not ask for appointment of an African American woman justice because there has never been one to sit on the bench in its history since 1789. I certainly do not ask because of any quotas that Justice Scalia spoke of in terms of African Americans. I do not ask because Justice Scalia would turn over in his grave. I do not ask because Black women voted higher than any other group to re-elect President Obama in 2012. I ask because the bench needs to further reflect the diversity of our country, in terms of women and Blacks. The nine member bench currently … [Read more...] about Scalia’s Replacement Should be an African American Woman
Supreme Court
Supreme Court Hears Case on Why Juveniles Should Not Die in Jail
As a trial lawyer and former prosecutor, I always seek justice and fairness during sentencing hearings. When defending an individual, I argue the merits of a sentence based on the specifics that relate to that person. Everyone is unique in what brings them before the criminal justice system and how the court should sentence them. On Tuesday, the U. S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Henry Montgomery, a Louisiana man with a low IQ of 70, who was convicted as a juvenile for killing a police officer and sentenced to the death penalty almost 50 years ago. His death penalty sentence was overturned in 1969. And he was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Montgomery’s case comes before the U.S. Supreme Court following a 2012 Supreme Court case ruling that those who were juveniles at the time of their offense must be given a sentencing hearing to determine if life without parole is appropriate under their specific circumstances. They … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Hears Case on Why Juveniles Should Not Die in Jail
Women’s Contraceptive Rights Under Affordable Care Act Under Assault
As the deadline for coverage under the Affordable Care Act looms on March 31, the U.S. Supreme Court gets set to hear 2 cases next week on March 25 which set to deny women birth control coverage by their employer health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The cases represent another chapter in history to deny women their reproductive rights using religion as the basis. One of the cases to be heard on March 25, 2014 is Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. which asked for an exemption to the Affordable Care Act’s (“ACA”) requirement that certain for profit corporations provide contraception to their employees. Hobby Lobby has stores nationwide and was started by a religious family who states the ACA requirement violates their strict religious beliefs. Hobby Lobby is a secular private for profit corporation. They are not exempt under the law. And the government argues that the ACA does not place any burdens to individuals such as the Green family. The … [Read more...] about Women’s Contraceptive Rights Under Affordable Care Act Under Assault