Minority representation in positions of power is increasing at all levels of government and on the bench. But, if a minority leader was chosen and promoted by the ruling elites, with an understanding that they would use their position of power to advantage the rich and powerful who put them in power. Then those minority leaders offer the minority group which they came from nothing more than symbolic representation.
We look at Justice Clarence Thomas, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senatorial Candidate Hershel Walker, and Robert Fogg, who may be the next Monroe County Public Defender. And argue that that representation, while important, isn’t enough.
Pitting marginalized groups against each other is bad for coalition building. If a lesser qualified minority is chosen over a more qualified minority because they serve a niche need for representation, it hurts coalition building. For example, suppose a less qualified black person is selected over a more qualified white woman. In that case, it makes it harder for the two groups to unite to fight against the system still dominated by white male patriarchy.
Changing the lives of poor and minority groups requires a focus on achieving policies that redistribute public resources to change their material conditions. A person’s membership in an underserved or minority group should be one factor considered. The most influential leader who will improve the lives of underserved minorities will be the person who will fight for institutional reforms and get them effectively implemented.
Sources
https://www.thedailybeast.com/herschel-walker-is-the-saddest-senate-candidate-ive-ever-seen
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/2022/07/28/monroe-county-legislature-president-sabrina-lamar-says-robert-fogg-her-choice-for-public-defender/65384873007/
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2021/11/19/monroe-county-public-defender-tim-donaher-not-seek-reappointment/8688265002/
https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/candidates-make-their-cases-to-lead-the-monroe-county-public-defenders-office/Content?oid=14523858#:~:text=The%20Monroe%20County%20Public%20Defender%E2%80%99s%20Office%20was%20created,with%20one.%20Annually%2C%20it%20handles%20thousands%20of%20cases.
http://etksdefense.com/ed-nowak-appellate-superstar/
Usual Cruelty: The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Justice System by Alec Karakatsanis
Ep. 34 - Making Trans Medicine Illegal with Professor stef shuster
Ep. 33 - Exploring the Reform Prosecutor Movement with Justin Kollar
Ep. 32 - Making Jury Trials More Fair with Rhian Jones
Ep. 31 - Cancel Culture and Wokeness with Prof. Lee Pierce
Ep. 30 - Originalism is Fake
Ep. 29 - Unrig Democracy with Daniel G. Newman
Ep. 28 - Brighten Ax Murder Solved?
Ep. 27 - Judicial Abuse of Law Clerks with Aliza Shatzman
Ep. 26 - Fighting Police Brutality with Don Thompson
Supreme Court HILF with Dawn Brodie
Trailer
Ep. 24 - Usual Cruelty of the Legal System with Alec Karakatsanis
Ep. 23 - We Don’t Talk About Law Clerks with Prof. Eric Segall
Ep. 21 - Form Over Substance
Ep. 20 - Texas Goddamn
Ep. 19 - No Seriously, Eat the Rich
Ep. 18 - Combating FakeNews at Home and Deepfakes in the Courtroom
Ep. 17 - Broadening the Bench with Julie Cianca
Ep. 16 - Legislation to Save Democracy
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