Overrides

Alabama’s Ongoing Battle with Judicial Overrides and Non-Unanimous Jury Sentences Raises Concerns About Racism and Constitutional Rights

by

Montgomery, Alabama – As communities around the nation reflect on the values of justice and equity, particularly during a season marked by religious commemoration, attention turns toward Alabama’s contentious death penalty practices. The state has recently been spotlighted for its continued use of judicial overrides and non-unanimous jury sentences in death penalty cases, methods that have drawn critical scrutiny and generated significant debate regarding their fairness and constitutionality. At present, Alabama is noted for having 167 inmates on death row. Of these, 30 were sentenced through judicial override, a process where judges have the power … Read more

Judge Overrides Previous Ruling, Approves Plea Deal in Fatal Police Chase Case Amidst Family Outcry and Legal Controversy

by

Dublin, Calif. — A controversial plea deal terms concluded a tragic case that had stirred community unrest and legal challenges over the settlement of a fatal police chase incident. Sekou Brandon, a 22-year-old resident of Oakley, was sentenced last month to seven years and eight months in prison following a fatal car crash that ended the life of 73-year-old Linda Susan Woodward during a high-speed pursuit by police in Livermore last year. The adjudication by Judge Clifford Blakely marks the latest chapter in a highly contentious legal journey that saw an initial rejection of the … Read more

NYC Mayor Overrides Recent Legislation to Maintain Solitary Confinement Practices in City Jails

by

New York, NY — In a controversial move, New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently issued an emergency order to partially suspend a new law that prohibits solitary confinement in city jails. This law, which aimed to end the practice often criticized for its mental and psychological impact on inmates, faces a temporary setback as city officials deal with what they describe as a rise in violence within the correctional facilities. Mayor Adams, defending his decision, argued that the suspension is crucial to maintain control and ensure safety within the jails, particularly amidst the current … Read more

NYC Mayor Adams Overrides New Solitary Confinement Ban, Claims Safety Concerns, Sparking City Council Backlash

by

New York, NY — In a significant move that has stirred local controversies, Mayor Adams has used an emergency order to override several key elements of a newly passed law slated to end solitary confinement in city jails. The order, issued on the eve of the law’s implementation, has paused some reforms that had been years in the making. Adams’ decision came under the guise of maintaining order and safety within the city’s correctional facilities. The emergency order specifically targets Local Law 42, which was set to limit the use of ‘de-escalation confinement’ to a … Read more