SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Last September, a group of academics and activists gathered at Princeton University to discuss the limits of artificial intelligence in public policy. The longest debate concerned some of the most sensitive decisions in the justice system, like whether to release a person on bail or parole. Many in attendance were queasy about using algorithms to determine prison stays — not least because crime data tends to reflect racial bias. But one conference goer in particular stood out for his skepticism.
His name was Bruce Reilly. The deputy director of a New Orleans organization called VOTE, which advocates for the formerly incarcerated, Mr. Reilly is a minor celebrity in the field. He was a sounding board for the leader of the recent Florida ballot campaign that restored voting rights to up to 1.4 million former felons, and helped lead similar initiatives in Rhode Island and Louisiana. Mr. Reilly, 45, has playful eyes, weathered skin and a boyish voice, and at Princeton, he wore a dark blazer that did not appear to be his natural uniform. Though it was barely midmorning, his shirt was already threatening to decamp from his pants as he turned to address a Princeton postdoctoral researcher sitting next to him.
"Statistically," Mr. Reilly told her, "the safest person to let out of prison is a murderer." The academic, Madelyn Sanfilippo, screwed up her face in apparent disbelief. "You seem like a person who cares about statistics," Mr. Reilly continued, arguing that people convicted of lesser crimes often cycle in and out of prison, while someone serving a long sentence for murder has typically matured out of crime by the time he is released.
"That makes sense," Ms. Sanfilippo said, warming to the claim. They talked amiably for a few more minutes. When they were done, Mr. Reilly turned and whispered in my ear: "She has no idea."
Related: Virginia Court Overturns Order That Restored Voting Rights to Felons
Florida Voting Rights Restoration Process Found Unconstitutional
(Score: 3, Interesting) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Thursday February 21 2019, @06:51PM (2 children)
He's a paralegal, not a lawyer. "Mr. Reilly, who graduated from Tulane in 2014, would like to be able to practice law, but it’s highly unlikely that he could pass the 'character and fitness' portion of the bar admissions process."
And "lawyer", like "doctor" and "nurse" and any number of titles, are regulated by the State whether you're legally allowed to call yourself one.
That aside, he won't really know if he can pass it or not if he does not try.
One story [nbcnews.com] of someone who didn't make it, yet the court who ruled against that applicant did note that even a murder conviction might be possible to pass wtih extraordinary showing of rehabilitation and moral character.
This sig for rent.
(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Friday February 22 2019, @03:04AM (1 child)
All true, though he has also extensively described [unprison.com] the reason he believes a law education is important and why he values that a lot more than a law license.
It's a truly refreshing concept, in my opinion -- should I care if a legal activist or even a legal scholar passed the bar? I care about what they know and what they have to say, not what their license says.
Practicing law is of course a different matter -- there are liabilities and responsibilities there that perhaps justify licensing and additional oversight.
But it's heartening to me to hear stories of people who value education for the sake of education, rather than merely as a stepping stone to some credential. If he wants to try to pass the bar at some point, great. If not, he can still do much more good in the world than the vast majority of licensed attorneys manage to do.
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Friday February 22 2019, @02:44PM
Well, first of all, i was correcting the Submitter or Editor's misleading title, "Convicted murderer turned lawyer and felon rights voting activitst." He's not a lawyer. The correct title would be "Convicted murderer earns law degree and becomes a felon rights voting activist." Or "Convicted murderer gets degree and wants to pass the bar...." But those, of course, aren't nearly as sexy.
Second, yes I indeed care if a legal activist or legal scholar has passed the bar, and you should too. Someone who has passed the bar has professional responsibilities towards assuring their advice is absolutely correct. Someone who has passed the bar can be held responsible if their advice or words are incorrect in a context where they have been paid for, both in a civil lawsuit for malpractice and before the bar association and in some cases the criminal justice system. And such a person will take a degree of responsibility in protecting their job by making sure their words aren't lies outside of the paid system as well.
Mr. Reilly does indeed deserve quite a bit of credit and his words do mean something because he does know what it is like to murder someone, to serve the time for it, and most especially because he has gotten a law degree. I don't want to take away from his accomplishments. And I wish he'd try to go for the bar anyway - expense aside, I don't know what it would hurt him. Maybe if he continues on his path he can satisfy the ethics side of things that show how much he really does care and that his violence was a true aberration to whom he really is. That's the picture the article paints, anyway.
I also have a firm belief in education for education's sake, too. Learn all that you can because it helps you, and more importantly can help others.
It's a good story.
But he's still, sadly, not a lawyer.
This sig for rent.