#courtwatching

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, 190,600 WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE INCARCERATED IN THE UNITED STATES. OVER 60,000 WOMEN ARE DETAINED PRETRIAL, PRESUMED INNOCENT, CAGED IN US JAILS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY BAIL. THEIR AVERAGE YEARLY INCOME IS JUST $11,000. OVER 66% ARE MOTHERS WITH MINOR CHILDREN.

LetHerGoHome.org

"My name is Fiona Apple & although I do not reside in Maryland, I have been courtwatching for two years & I am honored to have ties to this community. I could go on about the injustices I’ve witnessed, but instead, I will focus on the logic of granting remote video access. We had Zoom access for many months during the height of the pandemic when everyone was equal in the regard that no one was able to attend court in person. When the courts opened their virtual doors we were reminded that: So many were already unable to attend court in person. People w/ disabilities who can’t make the physical trip to court. People w/ jobs where they can’t get time off. People who lack funds & means to make the trip to court. The courts opened their virtual doors bc it was the right thing to do. It is still the right thing to do. We had Zoom access until it was suddenly taken away. Then we were left w/ audio that could hardly be called access. Many days, unable to identify who is speaking. Proceedings continue to be delayed & cases postponed as we have found the audio quality changes constantly. It’s hard to see what the hold up is, unless they want to hide whats happening inside like a bad police officer wants to turn off his body camera."

Via Scott Hechinger [x]

Call and email Maryland House Judiciary committee chair: Luke Clippinger Tell him he must support HB 133 aka the Public Online Court Access bill. Contact info:

Luke Clippinger (410) 841-3488 (301) 858-3488 [email protected]

Call and email Chair of the Maryland Senate Judicial proceedings committee: Willian C Smith, Jr Tell him he must support SB 043 Contact info: