After Choose Brinkley was reassigned, I placed on my courtwatching hat to look at Choose Mia Perez take over Brinkley’s circumstances. There have been a number of younger and center aged males who confirmed up that day and left surprised that their years-long probations had been lifted, similar to that.
Choose Perez was visibly distraught after reviewing a number of unlawful sentences. The prosecutor and defender within the courtroom had been each enthusiastic to see decade-long probations and unlawful sentences lifted. We had been all relieved that one thing was lastly taking place to proper the intense wrongs imposed by Choose Brinkley.
What struck me most concerning the circumstances I heard was that none of it gave the impression of incompetence or accidents. In stretching out sentences and probation and parole tails, in not offering significant alternatives for a re-assessment, in setting standing hearings past most dates, Brinkley denied people of invaluable time and the dignity of equity.
Choose Brinkley has reigned terror on Philadelphia for a lot too lengthy. In the end, her circumstances and selections are being audited. In a felony authorized system that far too usually prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and vengeance over justice, there are different judges up for retention this 12 months deserving of a more in-depth look too.
Nonetheless, Choose Brinkley is in a league of her personal. A metropolis that prioritizes justice can not tolerate a choose who jails individuals illegally and vindictively.
Our communities deserve a justice system that foregrounds transformation and devotes assets to assist individuals flip round their lives. As an alternative, Brinkley has torn households aside, value individuals their jobs, and ruined lives by jailing Philadelphians excessively and unconstitutionally. Choose Brinkley is unfit to serve and should resign. It’s what true justice calls for.
Nikki Grant is the Motion Director and co-founder of Amistad Motion Energy.
