Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Notre Dame President Emeritus Calls on House Judiciary Chairman and U.S. Attorney General to Meet with Embattled Legal Reform Activist
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Notre Dame President Emeritus Calls on House Judiciary Chairman and U.S. Attorney General to Meet with Embattled Legal Reform Activist Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana, recently wrote U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of Notre Dame graduate and good government advocate, Zena Crenshaw-Logal. Noting that he welcomed President Barack Obama to the university's campus for its 2009 commencement address but had yet to meet them, Hesburgh encouraged Representative Conyers and Attorney General Holder to meet with Zena, describing her as "a young woman with whom I have much in common." Hesburgh wrote Conyers and Holder upon learning of Zena's troubles following her public challenge, "with substantial community support (of alleged) bias by courts of Lake County, Indiana . . ."
Crown Point, IN (PRWEB) October 6, 2009 -- Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana, recently wrote U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of Notre Dame graduate and good government advocate, Zena Crenshaw-Logal. Noting that he welcomed President Barack Obama to the university's campus for its 2009 commencement address but had yet to meet them, Hesburgh encouraged Representative Conyers and Attorney General Holder to meet with Zena, describing her as "a young woman with whom I have much in common."
Reverend or Father Hesburgh as he is also known, has been a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross since 1943. He served as Notre Dame's president from 1952 to 1987; accepted sixteen presidential appointments in the interim, including to chair the U.S. Civil Rights Commission; remains a national and international figure at more than 90 years of age; and is arguably the best known educator of the twentieth century. Hesburgh's 150 or so honorary degrees stand as a Guinness Book record. Added to his awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and West Point's distinguished Sylvanus Thayer Award.
Zena wrote Father Hesburgh after he spoke this summer at a dinner honoring her and others during Notre Dame's "2009 Black Alumni Triennial Reunion". Zena's letter to Hesburgh overviews problems following her public challenge, "with substantial community support (of alleged) bias by courts of Lake County, Indiana against minority lawyers prosecuting relatively complex, potentially lucrative personal injuries claims." Zena asserts "(i)n the process our clients experienced staggering losses in increasingly unpopular personal injury matters such as civil rights cases and marginalized victories in routine personal injury disputes such as those premised on minor auto accidents."
The specter of judicial and political bias prompted the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Conyers, to investigate the U.S. Department of Justice. In an October 2007 letter, political insider Paul Minor made an impassioned plea, claiming only Conyer's committee ". . . can help (him, i.e. Minor) prove that the Bush Justice Department's prosecution of (him) and Justice Oliver Diaz, Jr., and Judges Wes Teel and John Whitfield was politically motivated." The U.S. House of Representatives is addressing the high profile Mississippi prosecutions and convictions as evidenced by a joint hearing this summer on "Allegations of Selective Prosecution: The Erosion of Public Confidence in Our Federal Justice System".
Writing as Executive Director of the grassroots reform group known as POPULAR (Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored), Zena points out in a February 2009 letter to Conyers that "(w)ealthy or once wealthy lawyers such as Minor (not to mention former coroners, governors, and judges) are better positioned to correct trial and/or appellate error without legislative action than most American litigants, respondents, and defendants." In fact teaming with the ACORN 8, a nonprofit organization characterized as the people's movement to reform ACORN, Zena explained by press release that "relative lack of wealth literally defines the most vulnerable segment of American society", noting "(w)hen it comes to resources for effectively fighting serious corruption, the overwhelming majority of Americans are poor; not in the sense of being impoverished, but as compared to certain corrupt forces we are compelled to resist."
In his referenced letter, Minor suggests various reasons why a federal judge's handling of his second trial may have been outcome determinative. Zena subsequently advised Chairman Conyers that "(s)uch questioning of the judiciary substantially curtailed if not ended the legal career of every POPULAR founder outside of our advisory board members". Largely at Zena's behest, renowned civil rights activist and former constitutional law professor Thomas N. Todd, called on Conyers to pursue a national administrative agency to regulate speech among lawyers. In August 2007 Todd explained that the reality of 50 different states providing "various interpretations of the federal standard" for a lawyer's free speech can spawn local abuse and a "chilling effect"; particularly when lawyers represent "very, very unpopular clients, . . . as they did in the South."
A March 2009 Washington Post op-ed mused that "(t)he president is . . . trapped between these two realms - - the governing elites who decide things and the people who are governed", asking "(w)hich side is he on?" According to Zena the answer remains to be seen, but she adds "it speaks volumes that only Father Hesburgh intervened; this despite an era of change personified by President Obama, attorney Todd's earlier rallying for First Amendment protections, and the numerous domestic and international leaders I beseeched for the proverbial little guy."
An online newsroom of POPULAR and the ACORN 8 links to detailed accounts of what Zena describes as "compelling pleas for assistance that at best prompted form letters declining investigation by federal authorities." The socio-economic background of those featured seeking help is so diverse that Zena defines the group as "Americans, grappling for justice without the benefit of wealth and prestige beyond accomplishments substantially stripped by arguable abuses of power and certainly under questionable circumstances." That common denominator inspired an op-ed by Zena, concluding in response to the announced fortification of Holder's Civil Rights Division that "(a)nyone legitimately pressing beyond local officials to our federal government for relief, needs a DOJ committed to First Amendment as much if not more than anti-discrimination enforcement."
To read Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh's letter to Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich) and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of Zena Crenshaw-Logal and learn more about POPULAR as well as the ACORN 8, visit http://www.popular4people.org/OLTW_newsroom.html
Notre Dame President Emeritus Calls on House Judiciary Chairman and U.S. Attorney General to Meet with Embattled Legal Reform Activist Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana, recently wrote U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of Notre Dame graduate and good government advocate, Zena Crenshaw-Logal. Noting that he welcomed President Barack Obama to the university's campus for its 2009 commencement address but had yet to meet them, Hesburgh encouraged Representative Conyers and Attorney General Holder to meet with Zena, describing her as "a young woman with whom I have much in common." Hesburgh wrote Conyers and Holder upon learning of Zena's troubles following her public challenge, "with substantial community support (of alleged) bias by courts of Lake County, Indiana . . ."
Crown Point, IN (PRWEB) October 6, 2009 -- Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana, recently wrote U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of Notre Dame graduate and good government advocate, Zena Crenshaw-Logal. Noting that he welcomed President Barack Obama to the university's campus for its 2009 commencement address but had yet to meet them, Hesburgh encouraged Representative Conyers and Attorney General Holder to meet with Zena, describing her as "a young woman with whom I have much in common."
Reverend or Father Hesburgh as he is also known, has been a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross since 1943. He served as Notre Dame's president from 1952 to 1987; accepted sixteen presidential appointments in the interim, including to chair the U.S. Civil Rights Commission; remains a national and international figure at more than 90 years of age; and is arguably the best known educator of the twentieth century. Hesburgh's 150 or so honorary degrees stand as a Guinness Book record. Added to his awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and West Point's distinguished Sylvanus Thayer Award.
Zena wrote Father Hesburgh after he spoke this summer at a dinner honoring her and others during Notre Dame's "2009 Black Alumni Triennial Reunion". Zena's letter to Hesburgh overviews problems following her public challenge, "with substantial community support (of alleged) bias by courts of Lake County, Indiana against minority lawyers prosecuting relatively complex, potentially lucrative personal injuries claims." Zena asserts "(i)n the process our clients experienced staggering losses in increasingly unpopular personal injury matters such as civil rights cases and marginalized victories in routine personal injury disputes such as those premised on minor auto accidents."
The specter of judicial and political bias prompted the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Conyers, to investigate the U.S. Department of Justice. In an October 2007 letter, political insider Paul Minor made an impassioned plea, claiming only Conyer's committee ". . . can help (him, i.e. Minor) prove that the Bush Justice Department's prosecution of (him) and Justice Oliver Diaz, Jr., and Judges Wes Teel and John Whitfield was politically motivated." The U.S. House of Representatives is addressing the high profile Mississippi prosecutions and convictions as evidenced by a joint hearing this summer on "Allegations of Selective Prosecution: The Erosion of Public Confidence in Our Federal Justice System".
Writing as Executive Director of the grassroots reform group known as POPULAR (Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored), Zena points out in a February 2009 letter to Conyers that "(w)ealthy or once wealthy lawyers such as Minor (not to mention former coroners, governors, and judges) are better positioned to correct trial and/or appellate error without legislative action than most American litigants, respondents, and defendants." In fact teaming with the ACORN 8, a nonprofit organization characterized as the people's movement to reform ACORN, Zena explained by press release that "relative lack of wealth literally defines the most vulnerable segment of American society", noting "(w)hen it comes to resources for effectively fighting serious corruption, the overwhelming majority of Americans are poor; not in the sense of being impoverished, but as compared to certain corrupt forces we are compelled to resist."
In his referenced letter, Minor suggests various reasons why a federal judge's handling of his second trial may have been outcome determinative. Zena subsequently advised Chairman Conyers that "(s)uch questioning of the judiciary substantially curtailed if not ended the legal career of every POPULAR founder outside of our advisory board members". Largely at Zena's behest, renowned civil rights activist and former constitutional law professor Thomas N. Todd, called on Conyers to pursue a national administrative agency to regulate speech among lawyers. In August 2007 Todd explained that the reality of 50 different states providing "various interpretations of the federal standard" for a lawyer's free speech can spawn local abuse and a "chilling effect"; particularly when lawyers represent "very, very unpopular clients, . . . as they did in the South."
A March 2009 Washington Post op-ed mused that "(t)he president is . . . trapped between these two realms - - the governing elites who decide things and the people who are governed", asking "(w)hich side is he on?" According to Zena the answer remains to be seen, but she adds "it speaks volumes that only Father Hesburgh intervened; this despite an era of change personified by President Obama, attorney Todd's earlier rallying for First Amendment protections, and the numerous domestic and international leaders I beseeched for the proverbial little guy."
An online newsroom of POPULAR and the ACORN 8 links to detailed accounts of what Zena describes as "compelling pleas for assistance that at best prompted form letters declining investigation by federal authorities." The socio-economic background of those featured seeking help is so diverse that Zena defines the group as "Americans, grappling for justice without the benefit of wealth and prestige beyond accomplishments substantially stripped by arguable abuses of power and certainly under questionable circumstances." That common denominator inspired an op-ed by Zena, concluding in response to the announced fortification of Holder's Civil Rights Division that "(a)nyone legitimately pressing beyond local officials to our federal government for relief, needs a DOJ committed to First Amendment as much if not more than anti-discrimination enforcement."
To read Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh's letter to Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich) and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of Zena Crenshaw-Logal and learn more about POPULAR as well as the ACORN 8, visit http://www.popular4people.org/OLTW_newsroom.html
Grassroots Reformers Announce Urgent Measure Following "Global Corruption Barometer 2009"
All Press Releases for June 18, 2009 Subscribe to this News Feed
Grassroots Reformers Announce Urgent Measure Following "Global Corruption Barometer 2009"
The grassroots good government and legal reform advocate known as POPULAR, Inc. announces the 2009 midyear recipients of its "Restore Integrity Award". Co-administrators of the award program conclude it is an "urgent measure given results and implications of the Global Corruption Barometer 2009 of Transparency International, a prestigious anti-corruption coalition."
Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 18, 2009 -- The grassroots good government and legal reform advocate known as POPULAR, Inc. (POPULAR) announces the 2009 midyear recipients of its "Restore Integrity Award". The award program is co-administered by POPULAR's Advisory Board President Katherine Moore and Advisory Board Vice President Nancy Swan. They explain that the group's "Restore Integrity Award" is awarded bi-annually in the categories of public sector, private sector, and grassroots advocacy.
According to Advisory Board President Moore, "all of POPULAR's award recipients have taken or otherwise pursued one or more specific acts or measures to eliminate significant inequity, waste, fraud, abuse, or other public and/or private sector corruption in America." Advisory Board Vice President Swan conveys that "POPULAR defines corruption as any illegal or unethical conduct contributing to the systemic malfunction of government, commerce, and/or democracy in America as contemplated by the U.S. Constitution." Moore and Swan note that POPULAR's "Restore Integrity Award" is an urgent measure given results and implications of the "Global Corruption Barometer 2009" of Transparency International (TI), a prestigious anti-corruption coalition.
urgent measure given results and implications of the Global Corruption Barometer 2009 of Transparency International, a prestigious anti-corruption coalition.
all of POPULAR's award recipients have taken or otherwise pursued one or more specific acts or measures to eliminate significant inequity, waste, fraud, abuse, or other public and/or private sector corruption in America.
POPULAR defines corruption as any illegal or unethical conduct contributing to the systemic malfunction of government, commerce, and/or democracy in America as contemplated by the U.S. Constitution.
in their county the private sector used bribery to influence government policies, laws, and regulations.
there needs to be greater effort made to ensure that the general public has access to and believes in the effectiveness of formal reporting mechanisms.
these individuals have exhibited courage and bravery without any regard to personal gain and we laud them for ideals that are consistent with POPULAR's goals.
POPULAR seeks out and honors those worthy of the Restore Integrity Award, our sometimes silent heroes who break down proverbial walls of silence and light the way for others, and who serve to inspire, encourage, and help others join to restore integrity.
The National Criminal Justice Act of 2009
undertake a top-to-bottom review of (America's) entire criminal justice system
the people's movement to reform ACORN.
Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored
TI indicates that overall perception of corruption has increased 8 percent worldwide. The group's Global Corruption Barometer 2009 reports a stunning 61% of surveyed Americans and Canadians believing "in their county the private sector used bribery to influence government policies, laws, and regulations." TI's 2009 barometer indicates "there needs to be greater effort made to ensure that the general public has access to and believes in the effectiveness of formal reporting mechanisms."
POPULAR's Moore and Swan believe their group's first round of award recipients deserve recognition for their efforts to expose and combat corruption, poverty, unethical behavior in public and private institutions, and to provide relief as well as evoke helpful reform. Moore adds "these individuals have exhibited courage and bravery without any regard to personal gain and we laud them for ideals that are consistent with POPULAR's goals." Swan interjects that "POPULAR seeks out and honors those worthy of the Restore Integrity Award, our sometimes silent heroes who break down proverbial walls of silence and light the way for others, and who serve to inspire, encourage, and help others join to restore integrity."
POPULAR's 2009 midyear "Restore Integrity Award" recipients are as follows:
Public Sector Category:
- Senator Richard (Dick) Durbin (D-IL) for declaring that banks which enabled America's current financial crisis, remain the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and "frankly own the place" as his colleagues in the U.S. Senate vote down his proposed amendment to a bill that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to help desperate homeowners renegotiate their mortgage payments.
- Senator James (Jim) Henry Webb, Jr. (D-Va) for introducing "The National Criminal Justice Act of 2009" calling for a national commission to "undertake a top-to-bottom review of (America's) entire criminal justice system" and offer recommendations for reform.
Private Sector Category:
- Dr. Richard I. Fine for being the first attorney to expose the illegality and inherent conflicts of interests spawned by the now notorious, "double benefits" payments from Los Angeles County, California to the state's superior court judges, all to Fine's professional and personal detriment as he was subsequently disbarred and jailed indefinitely on contempt of court charges.
Grassroots Advocacy Category:
- Ms. Marcel Reid and Ms. Karen Inman, co-recipients, for spearheading the grassroots fight for truth, transparency, and accountability within ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a purported advocate for low and moderate income people. Reid and Inman began their fight to reform ACORN while serving on its now defunct, Interim Management Committee and are among the co-founders of ACORN 8, "the people's movement to reform ACORN."
- Mr. William (Bill) Stegmeier for financially underwriting America's highest profile though failed ballot initiative to accomplish substantial citizen oversight of alleged judicial misconduct known as the South Dakota J.A.I.L. (Judicial Accountability Initiative Law) Initiative or Amendment E.
POPULAR will mail all of its 2009 midyear "Restore Integrity Award" recipients an encased certificate, commemorating their award. They were personally notified of and congratulated for receiving the award prior to this public announcement. POPULAR will announce its second round of award recipients in December 2009.
POPULAR is an acronym for "Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored". The nonprofit corporation is essentially an association of public interest attorneys and Juris Doctors, advised by a board of nonlawyer, community leaders. These good government advocates are committed to helping poor and other disadvantaged people access affordable and competent legal representation, appropriate judicial oversight, and important civil and criminal justice system reforms. See: http://www.popular4people.org
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Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/VGhpci1TaW5nLVNxdWEtRmFsdS1JbnNlLUNvdXAtWmVybw==
transparency international global corruption barometer 2009 senator dick durbin senator jim webb marcel reid richard i. fine karen inman bill stegmeier restore integrity award power over poverty under laws of america restored popular's restore integrity award
Grassroots Reformers Announce Urgent Measure Following "Global Corruption Barometer 2009"
The grassroots good government and legal reform advocate known as POPULAR, Inc. announces the 2009 midyear recipients of its "Restore Integrity Award". Co-administrators of the award program conclude it is an "urgent measure given results and implications of the Global Corruption Barometer 2009 of Transparency International, a prestigious anti-corruption coalition."
Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 18, 2009 -- The grassroots good government and legal reform advocate known as POPULAR, Inc. (POPULAR) announces the 2009 midyear recipients of its "Restore Integrity Award". The award program is co-administered by POPULAR's Advisory Board President Katherine Moore and Advisory Board Vice President Nancy Swan. They explain that the group's "Restore Integrity Award" is awarded bi-annually in the categories of public sector, private sector, and grassroots advocacy.
According to Advisory Board President Moore, "all of POPULAR's award recipients have taken or otherwise pursued one or more specific acts or measures to eliminate significant inequity, waste, fraud, abuse, or other public and/or private sector corruption in America." Advisory Board Vice President Swan conveys that "POPULAR defines corruption as any illegal or unethical conduct contributing to the systemic malfunction of government, commerce, and/or democracy in America as contemplated by the U.S. Constitution." Moore and Swan note that POPULAR's "Restore Integrity Award" is an urgent measure given results and implications of the "Global Corruption Barometer 2009" of Transparency International (TI), a prestigious anti-corruption coalition.
urgent measure given results and implications of the Global Corruption Barometer 2009 of Transparency International, a prestigious anti-corruption coalition.
all of POPULAR's award recipients have taken or otherwise pursued one or more specific acts or measures to eliminate significant inequity, waste, fraud, abuse, or other public and/or private sector corruption in America.
POPULAR defines corruption as any illegal or unethical conduct contributing to the systemic malfunction of government, commerce, and/or democracy in America as contemplated by the U.S. Constitution.
in their county the private sector used bribery to influence government policies, laws, and regulations.
there needs to be greater effort made to ensure that the general public has access to and believes in the effectiveness of formal reporting mechanisms.
these individuals have exhibited courage and bravery without any regard to personal gain and we laud them for ideals that are consistent with POPULAR's goals.
POPULAR seeks out and honors those worthy of the Restore Integrity Award, our sometimes silent heroes who break down proverbial walls of silence and light the way for others, and who serve to inspire, encourage, and help others join to restore integrity.
The National Criminal Justice Act of 2009
undertake a top-to-bottom review of (America's) entire criminal justice system
the people's movement to reform ACORN.
Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored
TI indicates that overall perception of corruption has increased 8 percent worldwide. The group's Global Corruption Barometer 2009 reports a stunning 61% of surveyed Americans and Canadians believing "in their county the private sector used bribery to influence government policies, laws, and regulations." TI's 2009 barometer indicates "there needs to be greater effort made to ensure that the general public has access to and believes in the effectiveness of formal reporting mechanisms."
POPULAR's Moore and Swan believe their group's first round of award recipients deserve recognition for their efforts to expose and combat corruption, poverty, unethical behavior in public and private institutions, and to provide relief as well as evoke helpful reform. Moore adds "these individuals have exhibited courage and bravery without any regard to personal gain and we laud them for ideals that are consistent with POPULAR's goals." Swan interjects that "POPULAR seeks out and honors those worthy of the Restore Integrity Award, our sometimes silent heroes who break down proverbial walls of silence and light the way for others, and who serve to inspire, encourage, and help others join to restore integrity."
POPULAR's 2009 midyear "Restore Integrity Award" recipients are as follows:
Public Sector Category:
- Senator Richard (Dick) Durbin (D-IL) for declaring that banks which enabled America's current financial crisis, remain the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and "frankly own the place" as his colleagues in the U.S. Senate vote down his proposed amendment to a bill that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to help desperate homeowners renegotiate their mortgage payments.
- Senator James (Jim) Henry Webb, Jr. (D-Va) for introducing "The National Criminal Justice Act of 2009" calling for a national commission to "undertake a top-to-bottom review of (America's) entire criminal justice system" and offer recommendations for reform.
Private Sector Category:
- Dr. Richard I. Fine for being the first attorney to expose the illegality and inherent conflicts of interests spawned by the now notorious, "double benefits" payments from Los Angeles County, California to the state's superior court judges, all to Fine's professional and personal detriment as he was subsequently disbarred and jailed indefinitely on contempt of court charges.
Grassroots Advocacy Category:
- Ms. Marcel Reid and Ms. Karen Inman, co-recipients, for spearheading the grassroots fight for truth, transparency, and accountability within ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a purported advocate for low and moderate income people. Reid and Inman began their fight to reform ACORN while serving on its now defunct, Interim Management Committee and are among the co-founders of ACORN 8, "the people's movement to reform ACORN."
- Mr. William (Bill) Stegmeier for financially underwriting America's highest profile though failed ballot initiative to accomplish substantial citizen oversight of alleged judicial misconduct known as the South Dakota J.A.I.L. (Judicial Accountability Initiative Law) Initiative or Amendment E.
POPULAR will mail all of its 2009 midyear "Restore Integrity Award" recipients an encased certificate, commemorating their award. They were personally notified of and congratulated for receiving the award prior to this public announcement. POPULAR will announce its second round of award recipients in December 2009.
POPULAR is an acronym for "Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored". The nonprofit corporation is essentially an association of public interest attorneys and Juris Doctors, advised by a board of nonlawyer, community leaders. These good government advocates are committed to helping poor and other disadvantaged people access affordable and competent legal representation, appropriate judicial oversight, and important civil and criminal justice system reforms. See: http://www.popular4people.org
###
Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/VGhpci1TaW5nLVNxdWEtRmFsdS1JbnNlLUNvdXAtWmVybw==
transparency international global corruption barometer 2009 senator dick durbin senator jim webb marcel reid richard i. fine karen inman bill stegmeier restore integrity award power over poverty under laws of america restored popular's restore integrity award
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