Archive for September, 2007

Yet More Good News

Friday, September 28th, 2007

I meant to include this in the previous post, hence the “Other Good News…” title. Oh well. Life distracts me sometimes.

Mychal Bell, the only one of the Jena 6 to remain in prison, was freed yesterday on reduced bond after the district attorney gave up his quest to try the teenager as an adult. Bell, who was 16 at the time of his arrest, was tried and convicted of aggravated battery as an adult and could have faced 15 years in prison, but the conviction was overturned by the Circuit Court of Appeals because of his age. He still faces retrial as a juvenile and could be held till he turns 21 if convicted.

This seems like a reasonable outcome to me. Yes, I know he had a juvenile record, which apparently influenced the DA’s decision to try him as an adult. How I know is problematic; aren’t juvenile records supposed to be sealed? The initial attempted murder charges smacked of gross overreaction, and the disparity between those charges and the ones faced by a white kid who jumped and beat up a black kid at an off-campus party sure smelled like racism. The DA’s insistence on trying Bell as an adult just ended up wasting resources.

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Other Good News of the Week

Friday, September 28th, 2007

Senate Passes SCHIP

Friday, September 28th, 2007

Talk Is Cheap

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Rep. Terry Everett To Retire

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

SCHIP Passes the House

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

Ready for a Woman President

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

MoveOn’s Ad Is Not the Problem!

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

Former City Councilor Indicted for Child Porn

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

We’re #1?

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007