Dear Neighbors,
Here’s a reminder that tomorrow night, January 29, the House Judiciary and Civil Law Division, which I chair, will meet jointly with the House Public Safety Division for a public hearing titled “Race and the Law: How We Can Improve Equity in the Criminal Justice System.” The hearing will be held at Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s auditorium from 5 – 7 p.m. After the hearing, there will be an informal reception with refreshments provided. The event is free to attend, and everyone is welcome.
The disparities people of color experience through every point in the criminal justice process are unacceptable, and the data shows in Minnesota, there is justice for less than all. This coming legislative session, we have the capacity to make a great deal of progress on these important issues including cash bail, excessive fines and fees, asset forfeiture, and our policies regarding subjects like cannabis. As an alum of the then-Hamline University School of Law, I’m hopeful our hearing will help deliver some momentum.
We have a series of expert testifiers lined up to contribute to our discussion including: Artika Roller, Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, who will discuss victims’ issues; Dr. Tracie Keesee, the Center for Policing Equity’s Vice President of Law Enforcement and Social Justice Initiatives will discuss policing issues; Perry L. Moriearty, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and Hennepin County District Court Judge Tanya Bransford will discuss pretrial and trial issues; and Rob Stewart, Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center will discuss post-conviction issues.
WHAT: Minnesota House of Representatives joint hearing of the Judiciary & Civil Law and Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committees
WHEN: Wednesday, January 29, 5 - 7 p.m.
WHERE: Mitchell Hamline School of Law Auditorium, 875 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul
Please continue to be in touch with your thoughts on this, or any other issue important to you. It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
John Lesch
State Representative