The Justice Report
The Justice Report is a journal dedicated to the advancement of civil rights by providing context and understanding for issues most prominently affecting our justice system today. This curated collection is an online database focused on poverty, historical civil rights benchmarks, staff and contributor insights, and the inner workings of our government leaders.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke publicly in June about making the city the safest it’s ever been in preparation for the Eras Tour and Super Bowl LIX. We have now seen that this “safety” is at the expense of the city’s most vulnerable populations.
Read MoreLast month, Judge Steven Duble in Harris County, Texas recalled all 12,500 arrest warrants issued by his court for people charged with non-jailable class C misdemeanors. He had “serious constitutional concerns as to whether we’ve done our ability-to-pay analysis," and recalled them instead of continuing to rubberstamp warrants that unconstitutionally criminalize poverty.
Read MoreToday, the Supreme Court released its opinion in Johnson v. Grants Pass, a case presenting the question of whether a law criminalizing sleeping outdoors is a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment when no alternative shelter exists. The Court ruled that the city of Grants Pass has the right to jail unhoused residents solely for the “crime” of sleeping outdoors.
Read MoreIn September of 2021, Equal Justice Under Law filed a lawsuit against Ravalli County, Montana, challenging the County’s “Jail Diversion Program.” The picture Equal Justice Under Law uncovered through litigation was even bleaker than the one painted in the amended complaint.
Read MoreLast week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Johnson v. Grants Pass, a case that asks whether it violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment to criminalize sleeping outside in jurisdictions where no alternative shelter is available.
Read MoreThanks to our supporters, Equal Justice Under Law celebrated its 10-year anniversary on March 24, 2024! This work would not be possible without the dedication of donors who agree that wealth-based discrimination undermines the foundation of our justice system.
Read MoreRecently, the Illinois State Supreme Court upheld the 2021 Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act (officially known as Public Act 101-652), which abolishes cash bail and specifies procedures judges must use to impose pretrial detention.
Read MoreEqual Justice Under Law secured a monumental victory in its lawsuit, Welchen v. Sacramento, a case challenging Sacramento’s pretrial cash bail system. Filed in 2016 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Welchen v. Sacramento alleged that Sacramento’s policy of charging exorbitant pretrial bail amounts without accounting for arrestees’ ability to pay was unconstitutional.
Read MoreLast month, Tennessee’s Elections Division issued new guidance requiring formerly incarcerated residents who have been convicted of a felony to fully restore their citizenship rights before being allowed to register to vote.
Read MoreA federal class action challenging pre-trial fees in Anderson County, Texas secured a critical victory this week when the court granted class certification to the plaintiffs. In Anderson County, many pre-trial arrestees — who have not been found guilty of any crime — are required to…
Read MoreA federal lawsuit challenging Ravalli County’s “Jail Diversion Program” is advancing forward after a judge denied the county’s motion to dismiss and granted class certification to the plaintiffs. In Ravalli County, pre-trial arrestees — who have not been found guilty of any crime — are required to pay pre-trial fees adding up to hundreds of dollars per month, no matter their income level.
Read MoreThe settlement agreement is a crucial step towards addressing the economic and racial implications of the U.S. carceral system. Although a growing number of state legislatures are working to reform their respective bail systems, the practice of setting and imposing bail, particularly cash bail, in the U.S. continues to disproportionately affect poor people of color.
Read MoreLast month, Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell of the Eastern District of Texas granted consolidation of two cases by Equal Justice Under Law challenging pre-trial fees in Anderson County, Texas, while also denying the county’s motion to dismiss.
Read MoreLast week’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade (and thereby undoing the constitutional right to an abortion) will have devastating and long-lasting consequences, particularly for our most vulnerable populations. As a civil rights organization, Equal Justice Under Law’s mission is to fight wealth discrimination in the “justice” system, and we foresee this landmark decision by the highest court as a massive blow to the people for whom we fight for justice.
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