[Peace] Re: Peace Digest, Vol 49, Issue 10
Matt Murrey
mytwords at yahoo.com
Fri Feb 8 16:58:15 CST 2008
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: [Discuss] [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] State's Attorney
Rietz Participates In Cover-up Of Police Brutality (Marti Wilkinson)
2. "Devotion and Love in Islamic Art" at Asian-American Cultural
Center through next Friday -- and 2/13 reception (Stuart Levy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 11:43:22 -0600
From: "Marti Wilkinson"
Subject: Re: [Discuss] [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] State's Attorney
Rietz Participates In Cover-up Of Police Brutality
To: peace-discuss at anti-war.net
Cc: AWARE peace
, "Laurie at advancenet.net"
Message-ID:
<32bb8df60802070943i47332bb9h4a6fa4fe28a8894 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
Hi Belden:
If this was a Julia or John Rietz doing a virgin run for the office the
argument about possible conflicts due to marriage to a police officer would
be much stronger. However, we are looking at an incumbent and that takes a
campaign to a much different level. On top of that Ivy threw his hat into
the ring far too late to make an effective challenge to the office.
When Julia ran for the office originally her supporters put together a well
run campaign which included advertising. I don't think that Ivy had enough
time to even have yard signs printed out. It's these types of details that
make all of the difference in the world.
PS: I don't think you are sexist.
Peace, Marti
On Feb 4, 2008 7:38 PM, Belden Fields wrote:
> You make some good points Laurie. I'm not sure I would favor a legal ban
> myself. But I would be less inclined to vote for someone as states attorney
> if he/she were married to a police officer. And again, to get to my major
> point, I don't think that I would be sexist for that.Belden
>
> On Feb 4, 2008, at 2:25 PM, Laurie at advancenet.net wrote:
>
> > She is not just a top bureaucrat, but sets policies regarding how to
> prosecute certain kinds of crimes and gets involved in individual cases.
>
>
>
> Isn't that what a top bureaucrat does – particularly with respect to the
> setting of policies regarding how to prosecute certain kinds of crimes and
> civil matters?
>
>
>
> With respect to the second part regarding getting involved in individual
> cases, obviously, states attorneys get involved in individual cases to
> greater and lesser degrees depending on their need to control, political
> insecurity, and other factors; but their main function typically is
> administrative and managerial, which does involve policy-making at both a
> general and a procedural level. From watching and listening to her on TV
> during the debates, I got the distinct impression that she is not only
> somewhat of a control freak who may attempt to micro-manage controversial
> cases (which is not all that unusual for elected or appointed states
> attorneys) but also some of the less controversial criminal cases being
> worked by her office. Nevertheless, she has to delegate much of the mundane
> daily decision-making and judgments to her staff even in controversial cases
> as a practical matter of time constrains and demands on her with respect to
> other activities in her agency; moreover, the specific concrete
> interpretations of both legislative provisions and administrative policies,
> rules, and regulations with respect to their application and implementation
> in any given individual case are a matter of judgment by the person who is
> actually working the case on a daily, work-a-day basis and goes unnoticed
> by everyone until it comes into question and becomes problematic. It is
> only then that it may come to the attention of higher ups in the
> bureaucracy.
>
>
>
> She also strikes me as a very defensive ego involved individual who would
> take any criticism as personal and would claim credit, control, and
> involvement in each and every case at the strategic level when she could do
> so without having to deal with the nitty-gritty details of the case which
> she probably is not up on in most instances. Hence, your impression may be
> correct; but it just as well may be a result of her ability to blow smoke in
> an impressive way which is what attorneys are trained to do and what
> politicians perfect to a fine point if they are to be successful.
>
>
>
> But, regardless of how intrusive she might be in the production of the
> work product in individual cases, there still remains the question of
> whether or not she would be less intrusive if she could and would formally
> recuse herself from cases or if the intrusions would only be more tacit and
> obscure. I would ask the same with respect to any official – let alone any
> states attorney. Moreover, it does not address the question as to if what
> make the spousal relationship more corrosive than other familial
> relationships or even close friendships and business associations –past and
> present – or close business relationships and friendships of relatives with
> non-related persons. Moreover, should such prohibitions and restrictions
> also apply to civil cases as well as criminal cases? To be practical, I do
> not see any way to remedy the problem by means of formal stipulations and
> prohibitions; the best that can be hoped for would be to legislate
> mechanisms that resulted in closer public scrutiny of various relationships
> and entanglements which might influence the actions and decisions of actors
> in the legal system and which would make such factors publically transparent
> so that their effects on judgments would be apparent and could be publically
> challenged.
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Belden Fields [mailto:a-fields at uiuc.edu ]
> *Sent:* Monday, February 04, 2008 1:24 PM
> *To:* Laurie at advancenet.net
> *Cc:* AWARE peace
> *Subject:* Re: [Discuss] [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] State's Attorney
> Rietz Participates In Cover-up Of Police Brutality
>
>
>
> My impression from listening to Julia is that she is much more intrusive
> in the process than you suggest Laurie. She is not just a top bureaucrat,
> but sets policies regarding how to prosecute certain kinds of crimes and
> gets involved in individual cases. I have had quite a conversation with her
> about one specific case.
>
> Belden
>
> On Feb 3, 2008, at 4:34 PM, Laurie at advancenet.net wrote:
>
>
>
> Out of curiosity, why are you satisfied in limiting the prohibition to
> spousal relationships only; how about brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers,
> children, cousins, nephews & nieces, and in-laws? History has shown that
> even close friends and business associates can influence the decisions that
> law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys and judges; I do not think
> that one can preclude such influences or even minimize them if they are
> going to exist. Why can't states attorneys recuse themselves from each and
> every such case? As a practical matter, the states attorney does not
> actually do the prosecutions in trails in most cases but passes it on to
> their assistants and deputies. While it is true that they can influence the
> decisions and actions of their assistants and deputies, it is also true that
> they can do the same if and when they recuse themselves. Independent
> prosecutors do not really exist except in name only, as documented over and
> over, unless the attorney acting as prosecuting attorney has the fortitude
> to fight for their independence and are willing to put their careers at
> jeopardy.
>
>
>
> Most states attorneys are administrators and managers of their
> bureaucracies; they frequently seek to travel the paths of least resistance
> and disruption to the routine daily operations of their agencies which might
> cause them to loss cooperation of those whom they pragmatically or
> politically are dependent on if their agencies are to be efficient and
> effective. Fairness and justice are secondary to administrative and
> managerial priorities and bureaucratic culture. Indeed, they typically are
> even dependent on police and ex-police to do their investigations and
> furnish them with information and data, which makes them inclined to not
> make trouble vis-à-vis law enforcement; similarly, they are also dependent
> on judges and are not inclined to do anything that would alienate the
> judges.
>
>
>
> Unfortunately, it is only human propensity for individuals who become
> prosecuting attorneys as well as police officers to self select such
> positions based on their values and beliefs, attitudes, psychological needs
> among other factors; if they were not inclined to believe that their side is
> right and give the benefit of the doubt to those who are aligned with their
> values and beliefs, they would not have become prosecutors and cops. There
> often is a tendency for judges to presume that the prosecutors and cops are
> correct and give them the benefit of the doubt whenever a question arises
> until proven otherwise. It is rare for judges, prosecutors, or police
> officers to question the word of prosecutors and law enforcement personnel.
>
>
>
> *From:* peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [
> mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net
]
> *On Behalf Of *Belden Fields
> *Sent:* Sunday, February 03, 2008 3:02 PM
> *To:* Marti Wilkinson
> *Cc:* peace-discuss at anti-war.net
> *Subject:* Re: [Discuss] [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] State's Attorney
> Rietz Participates In Cover-up Of Police Brutality
>
>
>
> I have to take issue with my friend Marti's position on Julia's being
> married to a police officer. While it is a delicate issue, I do not think
> that it is sexist to argue that someone who is very lenient with police and
> corrections officers when they commit crimes, and is very willing to take
> officers' sides of a story when there is an arrest with force and the
> arrestee claims that he/she has been unjustifiably roughed up by police, can
> be more inclined to side with the officers because of such a relationship.
> I think that would likely be the case if a policewoman were married to a
> civilian male or if the officers were engaged in a gay or lesbian
> relationship. States attorneys make judgments about how cases of arrest
> should be handled. In that sense they are judges of first instance. Since
> states attorneys cannot recuse themselves from each and every case, I think
> it is best that there not be a spousal relationship between states attorneys
> and police officers, corrections officers, or trial judges. I don't think
> that this has anything to do with sexism Marti, just a natural human
> propensity to be sympathetic with the perspectives of a spouse of whatever
> gender or sexual preference.
>
> Belden
>
> On Feb 3, 2008, at 1:21 AM, Marti Wilkinson wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Actually Julia Rietz is married to a police officer (they have two
> children) and she has never made that aspect of her personal life a secret.
> She has even pointed out that to judge her for who she is married to is
> sexist and that is something I do agree with her on. As an individual Rietz
> is capable of standing or falling on her record as States Attorney.
>
> One of the reasons why Piland lost to Rietz back in 2004 was for his
> lenient handling of the Brady Smith case. He allowed Smith to plea bargain
> on charges that he molested African American boys in his capacity as Dean at
> Franklin Middle School. Smith was able to get probation while facing these
> serious charges. Pilands office was also accused of overcharging African
> Americans in this county. Rietz ran for office with the promises that she
> would change things.
>
> Now lets look at the record of Rietz. When Sgt. Meyers received a felony
> conviction for his part in torturing inmates at the Champaign County Jail -
> Rietz allowed him to plea bargain his way into probation. Her justification
> was that losing his job and pension was sufficient punishment for his
> actions. This is somewhat reminiscent of what went down with the Brady Smith
> case.
>
> Someone else recently pointed out that her office was willing to allow
> Robert Arnette the opportunity to plea bargain his way into probation when
> he faced charges of molesting his stepchildren. He is now facing murder
> charges in the death of his ex-wife Naomi.
>
> The issues with overcharging that Pilands office faced has not been
> resolved under Rietz's watch. For this and for other reasons Rietz is now
> facing some competition in the primary.
>
> My suggestion at this point is to leave her personal life out of the
> equation.
>
> Peace, Marti
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 2, 2008 5:57 PM, wrote:
>
> Reitz...must go. She has been using both sides of the coin for the
> longest. First to begin with her long time boyfriend is a police officer and
> a republican. She has been using the Democratic party as a way of
> power, many of us in AWARE found that out during campaigning for Obama as
> Senator a few years back. She is really a wolf in sheeps' clothing! Let's
> get rid of her as fast as possible!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> *From:* Brian Dolinar
>
> *To:* announce at communitycourtwatch.org ; AWARE peace
;
> stop at iresist.org ; coalition at iresist.org ; Jenny Putman; Matthew
> Gladney ; Matthew Gladney ; Giraldo
> Rosales ; Melodye Rosales; Ruth
> Wyman ; Public i
; Aghi, Shaleen;
> Austin ; Claudia Lennhoff ; Cope
> Cumpston ; Carol Spindel ; tanya
> parker ; andrea carter; Erik
> S. McDuffie ; cdbenson at uiuc.edu ; Jason Finkelman; Joe
> Futrelle ; Joe Futrelle ; Jeremy
> Gipson ; Stephen Hartnett ;
> Anna Hochhalter ; Jacqueline Hannah; Patsy
> Howell ; Rochelle Harden ; Alfred
> Ivy ; Imani Bazzell ; Amira; Amira
> Davis ; Gene Vanderport
; Germaine
> Light ; Raymond Morales ; martin
> smith ; Chime Asonye ; Dave
> Roediger ; carl reisman ;
> mdp at uiuc.edu ; Jenny Barrett ; jrbarret at uiuc.edu ; Rory
> Thompson ; Jeffrey R. Thibert; Tom
> Mackaman ; dmlarson at uiuc.edu ; Vern Fein; Vacellia
> Clark ; briandolinar at gmail.com
>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 30, 2008 7:28 AM
>
> *Subject:* [Peace] State's Attorney Rietz Participates In Cover-up Of
> Police Brutality
>
>
>
> Some may remember an incident on March 30, 2007 when Champaign police sent
> 17 year-old Brian Chesley to the hospital after an incident in Douglass
> Park. The claims of police brutality were dismissed by local officials, and
> quickly dropped by the mainstream media, but the case remains in court.
> State's Attorney Julia Rietz, currently up for re-election, is taking
> Chesley to court in a trial that could begin in March for a misdemeanor
> charge of resisting a peace officer.
>
> Charges were filed five weeks after the incident on May 8, 2007, Chesley's
> 18th birthday, so he could be tried as an adult. The current prosecution
> by Rietz's office is clearly an attempt to stave off a civil suit against
> Champaign police for excessive use of force. Like the 2005 case of Sgt.
> Myers, a jail guard who was caught using a Taser to torture inmates, Rietz
> is once again placing the threat of law suits over the concerns of justice.
> This is an attempt to cover up another incident of police brutality.
>
> On March 30, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Brian Chesley was walking out of
> the Douglass Park gymnasium with two other youth, a 15 year-old and a 8
> year-old, after playing basketball. The two older boys were walking the
> younger one home. Park programs continued until midnight and park signs
> (changed soon after) indicated the park was closed at 9:00 p.m. Champaign
> police said the park closed at dusk and they had probable cause to stop the
> youth. What happened afterwards is in dispute. Champaign police say Chesley
> youth ran. Chesley says he was grabbed by police, thrown up against a fence,
> beaten, and heavily pepper sprayed. An ambulance had to be called to take
> him to the hospital.
>
> This occurred the same night as a Democratic fundraiser at the house of
> Gina Jackson, Champaign city council representative of District 1. Local
> kids came to her front door that night saying police had just beat up
> somebody. The alderwoman, with other members of the local Democratic Party,
> walked down the street to find a crowd of frightened youth, and young
> Chesley sitting on the curb obviously in pain.
>
> Community members went to Champaign city council the following Tuesday
> night to address what they said was police brutality. Martel Miller, of VEYA
> (Visionaries Educating Youth and Adults), brought Chesley and his mother to
> the meeting and pleaded for something to be done. Gina Jackson (who has
> endorsed Rietz's re-election) said that there must be "zero tolerance" for
> youth who do not obey authority.
>
> Attorneys Bob Kirchner and Ruth Wyman have taken up Chesley's case and are
> currently representing him. The State's Attorney's office attempted to make
> an offer of adult diversion, which would have required an admission of
> guilt. Chesley refused the offer. The trial date will be set in the next
> hearing on March 3, 2008 at 3 p.m. in Courtroom E.
>
> The Circuit Clerk web site clearly shows the offense date of 3/30/07 and
> charges filed 5/8/07, the 18th birthday of Chesley, 5/8/89:
>
> https://secure.jtsmith.com/clerk/clerk.asp
>
> ***Don't miss the debate Wednesday night, January 30, 6 p.m.***
> University of Illinois Law School Auditorium
> Alfred Ivy, III, Julia Rietz, and Janie Miller-Jones.
>
> --
>
> Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
> 303 W. Locust St.
> Urbana, IL 61801
> briandolinar at gmail.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
>
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 02:46:35 -0600
From: Stuart Levy
Subject: [Peace] "Devotion and Love in Islamic Art" at Asian-American
Cultural Center through next Friday -- and 2/13 reception
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