Advocacy Group, A Just Cause, To Push for Judicial Reforms Following Public Outrage in Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and …
Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) December 30, 2014
The advocacy group, A Just Cause, calls on Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. Department of Justice to take swift action in implementing reforms that would change the get a win at any cost mindset among some prosecutors, and hold them accountable. The matter of blanket immunity is a major concern that must be examined," exclaims Sam Thurman, A Just Cause.
We ask Attorney General Eric Holder to take a look at the events in cases like Michael Brown, Eric Garner and the IRP6 as examples that warrant more oversight and accountability during the investigative/prosecutorial stages of a case," argues Sam Thurman, A Just Cause. This year, the public has seen case after case in the media where there are indications that the time is right for judicial reforms," says Thurman. Cases have raised questions about conduct by prosecutors, problems with the grand jury process, racial disparity in policing, and disproportions among races when it comes to sentencing," Thurman adds. Prosecutors in the United States must move away from this notion of win at any cost, Thurman emphasizes.
A Just Cause continues its advocacy for six Colorado executives of the black-owned IRP Solutions Corporation, which developed the Case Investigative Life Cycle criminal investigations software for federal, state and local law enforcement. Court records indicate that the six executives, David A. Banks, Kendrick Barnes, Demetrius K. Harper, Gary L. Walker, Clinton A. Stewart and David Zirpolo, known as the "IRP6", were convicted in 2011 on mail and wire fraud charges. According to the indictment, the IRP6 made false statements to staffing company representatives about having "current or impending contracts with one or more large law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security" that induced staffing companies to enter into contractual agreements to provide staffing services. (D. Ct. No. 1:09-CR-00266-CMA)
When cases like Brown, Garner, Rice and IRP6 are compared to other like cases, disparity is exposed as evidenced by the outcome," argues Thurman. In the IRP6 case, court records show that Judge Christine Arguello chastised the IRP6 for making positive comments to potential vendors and business partners about IRPs business strategy and prospects," says Thurman. Court records show that in another, similar case, Judge Arguello commented, A corporations self-praise about its business strategy plays no serious role in market participants evaluation of potential investments. Reasonable investors do not normally rely on vague, optimistic statements in making investment decisions, concludes Thurman. (http://www.law360.com/articles/477411/delta-petroleum-execs-shake-securities-fraud-class-action). (Delta Petroleum, Darwin v. Taylor et al., case number 1:12-cv-01038, and the consolidated case is Nakkhumpun v. Taylor et al., case number 1:12-cv-01521). "Judge Arguello's visible disparity between the IRP6 and the Delta Petroleum case concerning optimistic statements certainly makes me wonder if she possesses some hidden racial or class bias," says Banks
There were several opportunities in our case where if the judicial system had operated as designed, Im convinced that there would not have been a prosecution or conviction, says David Banks, Chief Operating Officer, IRP Solutions (IRP6). There seemed to be a win-at-any-cost attitude prevalent in our case as evidenced by two grand juries, the IRP6 not being allowed to talk about criminal intent, expert witnesses not being allowed to testify at trial, and the harsh sentences, adds Banks. Disparity in the judicial system is a hot subject right now, and one doesnt have to look very far into our case and question some of the actions that took place, says Banks.
"There are several cases in the United States that substantiate the need for reform as well as greater oversight by the feds, suggests Thurman. "The extensive media coverage related to the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice has raised questions about the conduct of some law enforcement officials, especially as it relates to African-Americans," adds Thurman. The public must question if certain officials are properly executing the duties they have been entrusted to carry out, ponders Thurman.
Eugene Robinson, in his December 4, 2014 Washington Post blog post, Eric Garner and the devalued lives of black men wrote, 'African-American men are being taught a lesson about how this society values, or devalues our lives (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/12/04/eric-garner-and-the-devalued-lives-of-black-men/),' says Thurman.
According to the December 5, 2014 New York Times, The Justice Department recently shared findings of a two-year civil rights investigation that it conducted related to actions of the Cleveland Police Department. According to the New York Times the Justice Department investigation, found a pattern of unreasonable and unnecessary use of force that resulted in dangerous and reckless behavior by officers (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/us/justice-dept-inquiry-finds-abuses-by-cleveland-police.html?_r=0). Regarding the findings in Cleveland, Attorney General Eric Holder stated, Accountability and legitimacy are essential for communities to trust their police departments and for there to be genuine collaboration between police and the citizens they serve.
A Just Cause agrees that the cases involving Brown, Garner and Rice have exposed a system in dire need of an overhaul, expresses Thurman. A Just Cause challenges the Justice Department to expand the call for accountability and legitimacy to include federal prosecutors, federal agents, local District Attorneys, and anyone tasked with fulfilling the obligations to uphold the law, implores Thurman.
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Advocacy Group, A Just Cause, To Push for Judicial Reforms Following Public Outrage in Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and ...