Saturday, October 6, 2012

Criminal Justice and the November Ballot

Sunday, October 7, 1:00 - 3:00 pm,  Criminal Justice and the November Ballot.  Potluck lunch at the Peace Resource Center, 1364 Fremont, Seaside followed by a program with guest speakers Elliot Ruckowitz-Roberts of the Monterey County ACLU and Annette Summers of Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes.
In November, Californians will vote on two ballot initiatives which could bring significant changes to the state’s criminal justice system.  If approved, Proposition 36 will modify elements of California's "Three Strikes" Law, which was approved by the state's voters in 1994.  If Proposition 36 is approved by voters, approximately 3,000 convicted felons who are currently serving life terms under the Three Strikes law, whose third strike conviction was for a nonviolent crime, will be able to petition the court for a reduced sentence. Reducing the sentences of these current prisoners could result in saving the state over $150 million a year.  Proposition 34 — also known as the Savings, Accountability, and Full Enforcement for California Act —would convert the sentences of death row inmates to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  If passed, Proposition 34 would save taxpayers more than $100 million each year. The money spent keeping convicts on death row would be used to fund investigations of unsolved crimes.
Sponsored by the National Lawyers Guild – Monterey Bay Area Chapter. 
This event is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated.  Bring a dish or beverage to share and your own place setting, if you can.

For more info, call 831-869-2834.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Glenn Greenwald on "Repulsive Progressive Hypocrisy"

Obama has used drones to kill Muslim children and innocent adults by the hundreds. He has refused to disclose his legal arguments for why he can do this or to justify the attacks in any way. He has even had rescuers and funeral mourners deliberately targeted. As Hayden said: ”Right now, there isn’t a government on the planet that agrees with our legal rationale for these operations, except for Afghanistan and maybe Israel.” But that is all perfectly fine with most American liberals now that their Party’s Leader is doing it:

Linkhttp://www.salon.com/2012/02/08/repulsive_progressive_hypocrisy/singleton/

Monday, February 13, 2012

Punishing Protest, Policing Dissent: What is the Justice System For?

Punishing Protest, Policing Dissent: What is the Justice System For?

by Erik Hoffner

This year promises to be another historic year of people calling for change worldwide. Citizens took to the streets for a wide variety of reasons, from the Wisconsin Capitol to D.C., which hosted many actions last year including the highly visible civil disobedience of activists seeking to halt the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The resulting mass arrests, totaling over 1,200 by early September, surely played a large role in President Obama’s decision to delay approval of that climate- and water supply-threatening project.

Story continues here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/02/12-6

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Forum: Reforming the Criminal Justice System


This event is free and open to the public.

The Monterey County Chapter

of the

American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California

Invites you to

The 2012 Annual Membership Meeting

Saturday, January 21, 2012, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Community Room, Monterey Public Library

625 Pacific Street, Monterey

Program

1:30 p.m. Welcome and Review of 2011 Chapter Activities

Helen Davis, Chapter Chair

1:45 p.m. Forum:

Reforming the Criminal Justice System

Co-sponsored by the local chapters of

the ACLU, the NAACP and the National Lawyers Guild

Introduction: Phillip Crawford, Chapter Board Member,

President, Monterey Bay Area Chapter, NLG

Panel Members:

Kelli Evans, Associate Director, ACLU-NC

Mel Mason, President, Monterey County Branch, NAACP

Steven Rease, 1st Vice President, Monterey Bay Area NLG

2:45 p.m. Audience Questions and Answers

3:00 p.m. Social and Refreshments

3:15 p.m. Election of 2012 Board of Directors

3:30 p.m. Adjournment

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Legal Hotline

PLEASE NOTE: THE LEGAL HOTLINE FOR OCCUPY WALL STREET HAS A NEW NUMBER. 831-373-3327. The legal hotline is provided by the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. If you have problems with the police, call the hotline and we will do our best to find you an attorney who can provide you with free legal assistance. The new number is 831-373-3327.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Guild is occupied with protecting protesters’ rights

BY ALINE REYNOLDS

Throughout Occupy Wall Street’s more than five weeks of demonstrations, legal witnesses have been monitoring the activity of both the Police Department and the protesters to keep tabs on who might be violating the law.

Sporting bright green caps and known as legal observers, they are volunteers for the National Lawyers Guild. They are charged with observing O.W.S. activity in hopes of deterring police abuse.


http://www.thevillager.com/villager_445/guildisoccupied.html

Monday, October 31, 2011

Two Valuable Trainings for Occupy Activists


The Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild is offering two valuable trainings to Occupy Wall Street Activists this Saturday, November 5.

These trainings will be offered at Monterey College of Law, 100 Colonel Durham Street, Seaside, CA, beginning at 9:00am (sharp).

Know Your Rights

This training covers all of the basic legal information for interactions with police. Topics range from questioning to searches to safety. The interactive format allows participants to explore their options in realistic settings.

Legal Observer/Media Witness

This training was designed to prepare Legal Observers for mass actions. The focus is on collecting information that will be useful in criminal defense of activists or in civil prosecution of police and government.

These trainings are free. However, space is limited. You MUST pre-register for these trainings by sending an email to phillipjcrawford831@gmail.com no later than 5:00pm, Friday, November 4.

The email must contain your name and phone number and which training(s) you plan to attend. Your registration is complete when you receive a confirmation e-mail.

Only people who have pre-registered will be admitted.

Please direct any questions to Phillip Crawford of the National Lawyers Guild at 831-869-2834 or phillipjcrawford831@gmail.com