The dog days of summer are usually referred to as the hottest days of the summer, particularly from mid- July to almost the end of August. And Labor Day has come to mean the unofficial end of summer with vacations ending and students returning back to school. The dog days of the Trump Administration have been particularly hot. With summer closing to an end, I thought that now is a good time to evaluate the Trump Administration’s summer days. Trump’s Administration has been hounded with its failure of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, the ever- ongoing Trump-Russia investigation by Special Prosecutor Mueller, Trump’s comments on the Charlottesville Nazi/white supremacist rally, the Twitter roll out of elimination of transgenders in the military, pardon of Sheriff Arpaio and now the expected ending of "DACA", Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. For the past 8 years of the Obama Administration, the Republican Party vowed to repeal and … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s Dog Days of Summer
Grand Jury
Ferguson Grand Jury was a Sham and a Shame
As a former prosecutor who has worked in the Grand Jury Unit, no words can express my dismay and disgust at how St. Louis prosecutor Robert McCullough handled the presentation of Michael Brown's killing to the grand jury. There is distrust in the African American and other minority communities at how the criminal justice system appears stacked against them. Actions or lack of actions taken by the St. Louis prosecutor only substantiate those claims that the system is often rigged against African Americans. Whenever there is a flawed system, you will receive flawed results. The question that many ask is what was wrong with presenting every piece of evidence, including reliable and unreliable witnesses to the grand jury for their decision. Well, first the grand jury is not a trial. The saying among prosecutors and defense attorneys is that a prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich. What must be added to that sentence is “if they want to indict.” Prosecutors take cases into the … [Read more...] about Ferguson Grand Jury was a Sham and a Shame
As Ferguson Waits, the World Watches
As Ferguson, Missouri awaits the Grand Jury decision for the killing of Michel Brown, the world watches. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon held a press conference on Tuesday on the anticipated Grand Jury decision in the killing of Michael Brown which could come at any time. As the US and the world await the St. Louis Grand Jury decision on whether to indict Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown, one thing is clear. The Missouri Governor and the law enforcement are expecting the worst and are spreading the tone that the worst will occur. At the press conference today, there was no mention of Michael Brown’s name or his family. There was very little, if any, mention of peaceful protests. There was no mention of how the police learned from their earlier mishaps which resulted in many peaceful protesters including journalists and lawyer observers who were doing their job being arrested. And it is very clear that based on the mood, tone and … [Read more...] about As Ferguson Waits, the World Watches