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Friday, June 15, 2007
Hamilton County Juvenile Court System Lack Of Diversity Appalling
Posted by Media Release
Photo courtesy of here.
The Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP is concerned about the lack of diversity in our Juvenile Court. Out of two judgeships, there has never been an African-American. Since the 1990’s our community has had the ability to appoint a third judge to the Juvenile Court. Our communities’ failure to do so is unacceptable.
Courts should reflect the make-up of the community served. The court system should be fair and equitable. Large numbers of African-American children are being funneled through the court system, never having the opportunity to be judged by their peers. The NAACP’s Cincinnati Branch believes this is poor public policy. With two Juvenile Court judges always having been white and the correction population being 80% African-American, the Cincinnati NAACP President must advocate for an African-American Juvenile Court judge.
The Cincinnati NAACP President supports African-American lawyers, current judges and magistrates to organize around this critical issue facing the African-American community. The NAACP does not endorse candidates. However, the diversification of this court will be a top priority for the organization in the November election. Smitherman says, ” The delay in appointing a third judge and the push to raise taxes to build a new jail are issues that are deeply intertwined. This is an example that our court systems are broken.”
It is regularly stated that Cincinnati is 20 years behind the rest of the country. In this case, Cincinnati is 50 years behind in its court system. Sentencing precedes incarceration. Before building capacity for more inmates, the sentencing playing field must be leveled.
The Cincinnati President of the NAACP will place a vote of no confidence in the Hamilton County court system before its membership at the Thursday, June 28th, 2007 general membership meeting.
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15 Jun 2007 at 12:42 pm | #
Juvenile court cases are never judged by a jury…they are always determined by a Juvenile Court Magistrate or Judge. If the Judges are two white people (a white male and white female) and 80% of the people in that juvenile justice system are black, how are these people being given justice. The Juvenile Court has a third judgeship that they could fill or that someone can run for although that seat is never publicized. Hamilton County Juvenile Court need a black judge so that justice can become blind again.
15 Jun 2007 at 12:59 pm | #
*****
Well, Well, isn’t it about time the community look at the root cause of injustice !
Hello, we’ve been screaming for 5 years.
Can no one recognize when they are being reached out too ?
NOW, YOUR TALKING !
Why not investigate how the gop distorts the records of the black community judicial candidates to shut them out !
By the way, did the gop and stockdale really send a drop lit. piece where they distorted, through concealment, Hon. Ruckers Cincinnati Bar endorsement ?
JUDGE FOR YOURSELF !
We wonder if the local gop sued to try and stop the ‘free speech’ that tried to bring the ‘TRUTH” to the community:
Hamilton County Republican Party .com
NOW, WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT:
9 City Council positions or 10 municipal judgeships this election period ?
*****
15 Jun 2007 at 01:26 pm | #
*****
Sorry, one more note:
How many African American judges sit on any appeals court in the state ?
The state judicial system is gop controlled.
Why did the gop not appoint African American Judges to higher courts while controlling the Governorship ?
We think: WE ALL KNOW !
*****
15 Jun 2007 at 02:19 pm | #
Large numbers of African-American children are being funneled through the court system, never having the opportunity to be judged by their peers.
That is because children are not judges. Oh wait, did you mean that only blacks can dispense justice over other blacks?
You can’t vote for black judges if black candidates don’t run.
15 Jun 2007 at 03:21 pm | #
”...You can’t vote for black judges if black candidates don’t run….”
Well, you may be pleasantly surprised this judicial election period ?
Nadine Allen, Ted Berry, Fanon Rucker, and that is just for starters !
Stay tuned:
We promise there is more to come !
<i>”...Oh wait, did you mean that only blacks can dispense justice over other blacks?...”
No, but, the gop endorsed judicial dispenses political convenience, NOT JUSTICE !
15 Jun 2007 at 03:31 pm | #
Great topic! The Juvenile Court with all its secrecy needs lots andlots of attention. With Hendon leaving the office for higher grounds, the court and its processes are ripe for change. Judge Grady and Lipps appear to be wanting to reform that court, so NAACP and public attention , now, is time well invested.
Also, I will point out to the CSP naysayers, part of th rforms for juvenile court lead to efficiencies that will pay for that third judgeship that absolutely should be one of diversity.
15 Jun 2007 at 11:53 pm | #
“Large numbers of African-American children are being funneled through the court system, never having the opportunity to be judged by their peers.”
Has the NAACP checked their dictionary lately? If so according to the NAACP juvenile judges should be 80% black adolescents?
16 Jun 2007 at 12:09 am | #
JFD, you really should use a dictionary more often.
From answers.com:
A person who has equal standing with another or others, as in rank, class, or age:
Notice that the word “age” is only one of three designations. A peer, for the sake of a trial, is someone who is the defendant’s “equal”—which is a tricky thing to define.
16 Jun 2007 at 10:56 am | #
From the American Heritage Dictionary:
1) One who has equal standing with another.
2a) A nobleman.
2b) A British duke, marquis, ect….
It appears the first definition is the most fitting, unless you want British nobility running our courts.
According to my understanding, juries are to be made up of one’s peers. When one is being judged, by a judge, the distinction of peers entering into the makeup of the pool of judges doesn’t enter into the process. The bottom line here is not the semantics of the NAACP, it is their contention that a black judge, apparently in Mr Smithermans eyes, is better able to judge black juveniles in trouble with the law, than a white judge. On what is this presumption based? Also, while a third judge may be a possibility, do case loads dictate the need?
” The Cincinnati NAACP President supports African-American lawyers, current judges,ect…”
This statement leads one to believe Mr Smitherman has put this PR out unilaterally; otherwise it would say “The Cincinnati NAACP Chapter supports…..” Is Mr Smitherman representing the will of the NAACP or himself?
16 Jun 2007 at 12:13 pm | #
The Juvenile Court System will never be fair. It’s designed around minors committing such annoying offenses as taking a piece of bubble gum from the candy store.
What needs to happen is more openness so that communities affected by the gruesome behaviors of juveniles have an equal forum to speak up at how these crimes have negatively affected the residents. Having a say & putting the adult guardians out on Front Street could have a very positive result.
As it stands now, the kids & the parents/guardians know Juvenile Court is a joke. The Hillcrest facility is glibly known as Camp Hillcrest. There are laws in place where parents/guardians can be held accountable for the actions of the minors, but they are rarely, if ever, put into full force.
I think Smitherman would do himself a huge favor by addressing this facet of the system. He won’t. Count on it.
16 Jun 2007 at 08:10 pm | #
If you’re in the market for an African American juvenile court judge, I recommend Deborah Gaines. She was already a family court judge and is not anything like her (in)famous ex. She knows her stuff and the only thing anyone has against her is that her ex is a bit of blow hard and somewhat of an asshole which shouldn’t matter at all. Not her fault he’s a prick.
The Quick Google on her:
http://www.smartvoter.org/1998nov/oh/hm/vote/gaines_d/bio.html
http://www.smartvoter.org/1998nov/oh/hm/vote/gaines_d/
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/09/12/loc_judges_new_bench_on.html
She’s got kids and grandkids so she knows the realities of parenting and she’s got the qualifications. Talk to her why dontcha for whatever it is you’re planning.
17 Jun 2007 at 11:51 am | #
.
”...I recommend Deborah Gaines…”
Why isn’t Ms. Gaines placing here name on the ballot for a muni-judgeship ?
.
17 Jun 2007 at 01:47 pm | #
Why not give Kenny Lawson consideration as a Judge/Magistrate for Juvenile Court? After all, he assumed by supporting Joe Deters he’d get placed in line for a big chair.
Kenny’s a husband & a father. He knows what parenting is all about. His son has had plenty of run-ins with the law in Lincoln Heights & Lockland.
I’ll bet if the NAACP & other black organizations asked him to step up, he’d surely comply with the request.
BTW, I happen to have a lot of respect for Judge Leslie Gaines. I like his style, grace & manners.
17 Jun 2007 at 04:13 pm | #
The President of the NAACP is calling for funding an unfunded judgeship in the Juvenile Court system. Hey, wait a minute? Shouldn’t we have a right to vote on that? Is that Democracy? The NAACP just gets to dictate how Hamilton County tax dollars are spent without input from the taxpayers? He is also suggesting that this position, after it’s funded, be filled by an African American. Hey, wait a minute? Shouldn’t the voters get a say in who gets that position? Sounds like some dienfranchisement is going on up in here. Let’s put it on the ballot.
I’m sure that there have been plenty of qualified African American candidates that have been passed over in the juvenile system. One of more of them should have been appointed. But how can a juvenile expect a judge that’s one of their peers? Is a peer only someone of the same ethnicity? I thought social status was a factor. Age especially. Maybe gender. Are there any female judges, adjudicating cases for female offenders? A well-to-do African American judge is no more a peer of a poor black kid than a well-to-do white judge is a peer of a white kid. You can expect a jury of your peers but not a judge of your peers.
17 Jun 2007 at 05:14 pm | #
cincysue, why is President Smitherman of the NAACP taking a position on the issue when only rich white guys are the “experts” that should make all the decisions for us?
What makes African Americans think that they should have representatives in government just because they are tax paying residents that have been discriminated against through out our nations history?
The nerve of some African Americans like Crishtopher Smitherman to think that they deserve representation along with their taxation is bad enough, but all this talk about self determination makes one wonder what’s so wrong with them. Don’t they know we’re the deciders and we know what’s best for them and that is blind obedience. Trust us we’re Democrats and we ended slavery.
17 Jun 2007 at 10:29 pm | #
I have no argument that appointment of an African American to juvenile court is long overdue but with the contention that such an appointment should be made because juveniles deserve to be judged by their peers.
And I also think Deborah Gaines would be a good candidate, able to bring justice for ALL children in the system, because if we accept the premise that a white judge can’t be fair to black kids,then well, we’ll have to question if a black judge can fairly judge white, hispanic, asian and others.
And seriously, should we have the opportunity to vote on it?
18 Jun 2007 at 10:17 am | #
Emperor, sir, can you spell Christopher?
18 Jun 2007 at 07:06 pm | #
I wish I could believe that the NAACP won’t go soft on Portune and Pepper. Right now, I don’t.
Why wasn’t this part of the Leis/Pepper/Portune/CBC COMPREHENSIVE public safety plan. They don’t mind providing more JAIL SPACE for kids, why not another judge?! And why not one that looks like most of the kids who go through the system?
Why haven’t Portune and Pepper addressed the jury system and moved to change the way the county selects juries? Is it because they like the current system of selecting potential jurors from voter registration lists instead of drivers’ licenses, which often results in all white juries? Where is the resolution from Pepper and Portune demanding that this system be changed? I mean, Portune has only been on the Commission for what, 6 damn years. He has now voted twice to build a new jail. When is he going to get around to this issue?
On Portune’s watch, the Department of Jobs & Family Services has wasted hundreds of millions of dollars. Where was Todd to stop this wasteful spending? Instead of protecting children and families, Todd was right there voting with Phil Heimlich to hire outside consultants to do work that never got done. Let a poor Black lady steal a nickle from JFS, even if the theft is due to a paperwork mistake, and the County will try to lock her up. But has Portune tried to recover the money given to A.T. Hudson Co.? And has Pepper said or done anything about this since being elected to the Commission over 6 months ago? Or was Pepper’s outrage just more political theatre?
18 Jun 2007 at 07:12 pm | #
I’ve been looking at the County’s budget and list of department heads. Anyone want to take a guess at how many of them are Black?
Not so long ago, Monica R. Williams raised an interesting question that was belittled by the publishers here at the Beacon. Her point, if I remember correctly, was that the people hired Portune and Pepper and placed on the County payroll were all white. In the 6 years that Portune has been on the Commission, he has never hired a Black person. I almost hate to bring this topic up again remembering how angry some of you got. But can you see now that maybe Portune and Pepper might have a different take on the jail tax or the juvenile court structure or the jury system or hiring diversity or the Banks or any number of things if their staffs weren’t composed of all white people.
18 Jun 2007 at 07:54 pm | #
Nate, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have never belittled Monica R. Williams and I support her in bringing yet another one of Portune and Pepper’s failures to everyone’s attention. I find it impossible to believe that there aren’t any African Americans in Hamilton County that are not only qualified, but would be happy to work in that capacity.
I believe you didn’t like the fact that the Dean decided to get an answer before posting her letter. Is that what you’re refering too?
18 Jun 2007 at 11:00 pm | #
“And why not one that looks like most of the kids who go through the system?”
Judge Howser ?