law
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Georgia Man Free After Spending 2 Years in Jail for a Crime He Didn’t Commit
It’s really hard to have faith in a system that routinely allows cops to get away with things that would see the rest of us locked up, while at the same time incarcerating innocent people over weak cases with questionable evidence. A man in Augusta, Ga., spent two years in jail for a crime he…
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Andrew Brown Jr.'s Family Asks District Attorney to Recuse Himself From Prosecuting Coworkers
Attorneys for the family of a North Carolina man who was killed by law enforcement officers have asked the district’s top law enforcement officer to recuse himself from investigating and charging his coworkers because…did you even read the sentence? Lawyers representing the family of Andrew Brown Jr., who was slain by Pasquotank County, N.C., sheriff’s…
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Derek Chauvin's Lawyer Seeks New Trial
Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder for killing George Floyd weeks ago, but his defense lawyers are already trying to get a new trial. Eric Nelson said in a four-page document that a number of errors were made during the trial, including mistakes made by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, prosecutorial and juror misconduct, intimidation…
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The Glow Up 50: In Praise of the Glam Squad
In this most unconventional of awards seasons, we are proudly closing out our second annual celebration of Black creatives innovating the worlds of fashion, beauty and media, better known as The Glow Up 50. We’re uniquely proud of each of our honorees this year (and hope you’ve taken a moment to applaud all of them…
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The Day Before Derek Chauvin's Conviction Was Announced, a Judge Denied Walter Scott's Killer's Request to Be Set Free
On Tuesday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd. It was a small victory. It was justice, I guess. It was, for the most part, a single instance of the kind of accountability that desperately needs to be normalized. The day before the verdict was announced, another ex-cop who has…
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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Celebrated 4/20 by Sending 15,000 Marijuana Convictions Up in Smoke
While the twentieth day of the fourth month holds no special significance for anyone outside of the incense industry (for some reason, it always smells like something’s burning; maybe it’s just me), Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Randall Woodfin gave residents a reason to celebrate when he officially pardoned anyone convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession by the…
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DOJ to Investigate Police Practices in Minneapolis
Less than a day after Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a civil investigation into police practices in Minneapolis. The DOJ will determine if the Minneapolis Police Department uses excessive force, engages in discriminatory conduct, and whether its treatment of people with mental health issues violates any…
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Prosecutor Closes Case Against Georgia State Rep Arrested For Knocking on Gov. Brian Kemp's Door
Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon will not be facing eight years in prison after all, in the newest development in the absurd criminal case brought against her. On Mar. 25, Georgia state troopers arrested Cannon for the apparent crime of knocking on the white governor’s door while he was signing a law to make it…
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Investigators Probe Possible Audio Confession in Kendrick Johnson’s Death
The suspicious death of Kendrick Johnson, a Black teen whose body was found in a rolled-up mat in his school gym in 2013, is again under investigation, and a new development hints that a culprit in his death could be identified. Since 17-year-old Johnson was found in a wrestling mat at Lowndes High School in…