Browsing: Viewpoints

Regular view point contributor Jodie Sinclair discusses the stigma around marrying someone incarcerated through her marriage with journalist Billy SInclair who was on death row when they met. Jodie dives into the challenges, sacrifices, and victories in her battle to help get her husband out of prison as she diects the she played in Billy’s life while he was in prison, a role not often talked about.

For our viewpoints series, Gregg Barak examines the interplay between media bias and societal divisions, revealing how America’s democratic foundations are being tested like never before. From the influence of Trump’s narrative to the evolving role of the fourth estate, this piece explores the critical issues facing US democracy and argues for the potential for reform and the urgent need for a collective return to shared truths and democratic ideals.

Along with a deep analysis of the investigation into Trump’s January 6 involvement, regular viewpoint contributor Gregg Barak highlights the critical intersection of politics and criminal justice, arguing that a second Trump presidency could irreversibly alter the landscape of American democracy and exacerbate systemic issues within the justice system. The author draws on Civil rights Lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill’s insights, emphasizing the need for urgent action to prevent the rise of an autocratic regime that could further entrench inequalities and injustices in the system.

Twenty-four people have been put to death in the US this year with the executions all taking place in five states as of December 7. The death penalty has always been, and continues to be, a regional punishment favored in the most violent, politically conservative states: the Confederate states and their bordering neighbors. 

Regular Viewpoint contributor Gregg Barak underscores the broader question of modernizing courtroom transparency, particularly in high-stakes cases like U.S. v. Trump, awaiting a decisive ruling from Judge Tanya Chutkan. In a pivotal legal debate, the DOJ opposes televising Donald Trump’s trial, citing the potential impact on judicial proceedings and tradition, while media advocates argue for transparency, emphasizing the public’s right to witness this historic case. Trump’s support for broadcasting the trial fuels speculation about his motives, amidst concerns over misinformation and trial integrity.

For our Viewpoints series, Daryl James and Adam Linthicum argue that police dogs are being misused in civil forfeiture cases, where law enforcement agencies can seize property without a criminal conviction, often based on dubious K9 alerts. This practice not only undermines legal integrity but also leads to the mistreatment of the dogs involved. The two colleagues from the Institute for Justice advocate for the abolition of civil forfeiture, highlighting the need for more ethical and constitutionally sound practices in law enforcement.

For our Viewpoints series regular contributor Billy Sinclair inspects the transformation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s approach to ruling on juvenile cases that he says can be traced back to 2005. Sinclair dives into how these legal decisions have increasingly reflected political ideology rather than a pure commitment to the rule of law. Sinclair scrutinizes key Supreme Court rulings and the ideological clashes among the justices, ultimately contending that this shift has sown confusion and divergence in how states handle juvenile justice.