• Home
  • About
  • Programs
    • Fair Housing
    • Honesty In Education
    • School Board Races
    • Redistricting
    • Criminal Justice
    • Health
    • Education Funding
    • DEI in Education
  • Watch
    • Housing
    • Criminal Justice
    • Health
    • Education
    • Voter Rights
    • Redistricting
  • Take Action
    • Media Outlets
  • Resources
  • Connect
REAL TALK | LWV
  • Home
  • About
  • Programs
    • Fair Housing
    • Honesty In Education
    • School Board Races
    • Redistricting
    • Criminal Justice
    • Health
    • Education Funding
    • DEI in Education
  • Watch
    • Housing
    • Criminal Justice
    • Health
    • Education
    • Voter Rights
    • Redistricting
  • Take Action
    • Media Outlets
  • Resources
  • Connect
Picture
WATCH
2-PART SERIES: Wednesday, June 2 & June 9 -- 7pm ET

Is Justice Truly Blind?
​
Examining the Courts for Racial Equity:

​​From Arraignment to Reentry
Does Ohio's court system work equitably for all defendants or unfairly penalize people of color and impoverished communities? This 2-part series examines how race, poverty, structural racism, and racialized bias impact the judicial process and outcomes for people of color, from initial charges, bail, plea bargains, convictions, sentencing, and reentering society. Beyond the courts, how do Ohioans rebuild their lives with thousands of Collateral Consequences and Sanctions restricting  access to housing, employment, healthcare, and their families? Meet the justice officials, support agencies, and formerly incarcerated Ohioans who are reforming the system and rebuilding communities.
Moderators: ​
M.L. Schultze, Social Justice Reporter, WKSU 89.7 / NPR
Foluke Omosun, WKSU 89.7 / NPR 


​FEATURING:
​

Part 1: Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Brant Lee, Professor of Law, Assistant Dean of Diversity & Social Justice Initiatives, 
University of Akron School of Law
The Honorable Ronald Adrine, Retired Cleveland Municipal Court Judge 
The Honorable Stephen L McIntosh, Franklin Court of Common Pleas, Administrative Judge
The Honorable David Hamilton, Akron Municipal Court Judge
Tania Nemer,
Summit County Community Outreach Prosecutor 
Cullen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Chief Public Defender 

Part 2: Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Reverend Raymond Greene, Executive Director, The Freedom BLOC​
Maria Smith, Supervising Attorney, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Robin Turner, Criminal Justice Organizer, Ohio Organizing Collaborative
Walter Mathis, Community Organizer, Akron Organizing Collaborative
Perry Clark, Founder, President, Truly Reaching You, Inc. (TRY)
Michael Randle, Executive Vice President, Operations, Oriana House, Inc., Summit County
PART 1:  Wednesday, June 2, 2021 -- 7pm ET

Navigating the System: Arraignment Through Sentencing
Is justice truly blind -- why do racial disparities and inequities continue to permeate the court system and perpetuate disparate outcomes for people of color?  This evening, you will learn how defendants must navigate a complicated criminal legal system with a troubled pattern of racial injustice and systemic inequality. Meet the judges, prosecutors, and public defenders who are working to balance the scales of justice by addressing wrongful arrests, the controversial cash bail system, mandatory sentencing, and cultural representation in the courts. Learn about their use of diversion programs, alternative sentences, and restorative justice practices to comprehensively restore and rehabilitate Ohioans and stem racialized mass incarceration.
Picture
Picture
MODERATOR
M.L. Schultze
​
Social Justice Reporter
WKSU 89.7 / NPR

BIO
OPENING REMARKS
Brant Lee
Professor of Law
Assistant Dean of Diversity &
​Social Justice Initiatives
University of Akron School of Law

BIO
FEATURING

Picture
 The Honorable
​Ronald Adrine

Retired Judge 
Cleveland Municipal Court
​BIO
Picture
The Honorable Stephen L McIntosh
Judge
Franklin Court Common Pleas
BIO
Picture
The Honorable
​David Hamilton

Judge
Akron Municipal Court
​BIO
Picture
Tania Nemer
Community Outreach Prosecutor
​Summit County
BIO
Picture
Cullen Sweeney
Chief Public Defender
Cuyahoga County
BIO
PART 2: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 -- 7pm ET

Picking Up the Pieces: 'Collateral Consequences' & Reentry​
What are the challenges and barriers that defendants and formerly incarcerated Ohioans face as they transition back into society -- guilty or not? Arrest records, remanded custody, sentencing, incarceration, and criminal records trigger thousands of legal Collateral Consequences and Sanctions that severely restrict access to housing, employment, healthcare, education, and voting --  these Collateral Consequences disproportionately impact people of color and impoverished communities.  

This evening, you will meet the organizations, grass-roots leaders, and formerly incarcerated Ohioans working to eliminate Collateral Sanctions and reform the criminal justice system through bail, sentencing, and reentry initiatives. Learn about their legal support services, mental health & addiction services, training and employment placement, education programs, community re-investment initiatives, and policy reform efforts.  
Picture
Picture
MODERATOR
Foluke Omosun
Reporter
​WKSU 89.7 / NPR
​BIO
OPENING REMARKS
Reverend Raymond Greene

Executive Director
​The Freedom BLOC
​BIO
FEATURING
​
Picture
 Robin Turner
Criminal Justice Organizer 
Ohio Organizing Collaborative
​BIO

Picture
Walter Mathis
Author,
​Community Organizer

Akron Organizing Collaborative
BIO
Picture
Maria Smith
Supervising Attorney
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
​BIO
Picture
Perry Clark
Founder and President
​Truly Reaching You, Inc. (TRY)
​BIO


Picture
Michael Randle
Executive Vice President
Oriana House
​Summit County

BIO

With Special Thanks To:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

ICYMI...

Miss a program? Need to re-visit a topic?  Want to share a favorite program?

​Visit the Watch page to catch up on previous programming, download slide decks, and review Lists of Resources.
WATCH previous events
  • Home
  • About
  • Programs
    • Fair Housing
    • Honesty In Education
    • School Board Races
    • Redistricting
    • Criminal Justice
    • Health
    • Education Funding
    • DEI in Education
  • Watch
    • Housing
    • Criminal Justice
    • Health
    • Education
    • Voter Rights
    • Redistricting
  • Take Action
    • Media Outlets
  • Resources
  • Connect