Holder pushes for criminal-justice overhaul

[ProSense]

Holder pushes for criminal-justice overhaul

By Steve Benen

When it comes to progressive causes, Attorney General Eric Holder has been quite busy. Over the weekend, for example, he unveiled “a bold effort by his department to eliminate the distinction between same-sex and opposite-sex married couples in the federal justice system.” Yesterday he issued instructions declaring that it is the Justice Department’s policy “to recognize lawful same-sex marriages as broadly as possible” and “treat all individuals equally regardless of sexual orientation.”

Holder is fighting against conservative restrictions on voting rights. He’s allowing Colorado and the state of Washington to pursue marijuana legalization. He’s fighting for sentencing reforms. He’s combating “Stand Your Ground” laws.

If the Attorney General retires at the end of the year, as is widely rumored, Holder will depart as arguably the most underrated champion of the progressive agenda to serve in his office in recent memory.

And as Adam Serwer noted this morning, Holder’s not done.

Disenfranchisement of the formerly incarcerated is unnecessary, unjust and counterproductive, Attorney General Eric Holder told an audience at the Georgetown University Law Center on Tuesday.

“At worst, these laws, with their disparate impact on minority communities, echo policies enacted during a deeply troubled period in America’s past – a time of post-Civil War discrimination,” Holder said. “And they have their roots in centuries-old conceptions of justice that were too often based on exclusion, animus and fear.”

Holder’s remarks were made at a bipartisan criminal justice symposium held by the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights.

Good for Holder. This is an important issue that too often gets ignored, largely because we’re talking about the loss of voting rights for ex-cons with no meaningful political capital.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/holder-pushes-criminal-justice-overhaul

[Scuba]

1. Yet Jamie Dimon remains a free man.

[The The]

2. Good move

I like Holder

[ProSense]

6. Welcome to DU. n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Funny how all that talk coalesces into nothing much…

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/federal-pot-busts-continue-weed-friendly-states-article-1.1457522

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/210203/why-is-the-dea-still-bullying-colorado-on-pot/

http://www.canorml.org/costs/federal_medical_marijuana_prisoners_and_cases

[ProSense]

4. Really?

"Funny how all that talk coalesces into nothing much…"

The policy changes are being put into place. A story here or there from 2013 does not mean that it's all "talk."

Eric Holder Just ANNOUNCED A MAJOR SHIFT On U.S. Marijuana Policy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024381108

Making the banking system marijuana friendly
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024397961

[ProSense]

5. Kick! n/t

[bemildred]

7. This is all good. I'm very glad to see these things under discussion.

As with the "no pre-existing conditions" clause in ACA, it's probably more important in the long run than more flashy things.

And, assuming this results in changes in law, better than just taking adminstrative action. Which might not be a good idea in an election year anyway.

[ProSense]

8. Kick! n/t