Prosecuting the Hate Crime

Hate-motivated crimes, or hate crimes have gained an extraordinary amount of publicity in recent years; however, these crimes are not reported as often as assumed, and they are rarely ever prosecuted.  Recent examples of such crimes are the cases of Treyvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tyler Clementi, Christopher Lane, and Eric Gardner.  Even more recently was the North Carolina Chapel Hill shootings that stole the lives of Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad, and her sister, Razan Mohammad.  Self-proclaimed Atheist, Craig Stephen Hicks, shot the three Muslim students in their home execution-style in what mass media reported as “a dispute between neighbors” fueled by rage over a parking spot.  However, family members and supporters all over the world know what it really was: a hate crime. 

Fighting for Justice in Ferguson: The Role of Attorneys During National Protests

With the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, the controversial issues of systematic racism and police brutality have captivated American citizens. In a time when the public outrage and qualms not only about police officers, but also the legal system that seems to protect those who fail to “protect and serve” citizens is at an all time high, people are calling for justice. Attorneys from across the nation have traveled to Ferguson, Missouri to take their place within the heated protests to provide legal assistance to protesters who have been arrested, to monitor and document police behavior, and to provide legal assistance to those who may not be able to afford representation. As citizens fight for justice surrounding the incidents in Ferguson, attorneys have been there on the ground to aid in the fight.     

“I-Witness” Testimony: The Problem of Remembering What Happened in Ferguson

*Author’s Note:  First and foremost, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Michael Brown.  Regardless of the circumstances, it does not change the fact that a young life was lost; a mother yearns for the warm embrace of her son; a family mourns the loss of a loved-one; a community struggles to understand and heal; and a nation is confronted with an opportunity to define its legacy. 

The Defense of Justification: An Analysis of the Case Against Darren Wilson

As news spreads of the shooting of Michael Brown by Darren Wilson, many have already begun to speculate as to the result.  Some say Wilson will go to jail murdering a boy in cold blood, and others say he was justified in defending himself and should not face jail time for doing his job.  Although the facts of the case are not crystal clear, it is important to view the facts and apply the law in as unbiased a manner as possible.  An analysis of the relevant statutes and possible facts of the case follows.