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Sacramento, CA. Press Release/Announcement of Press Conference on Presiding Judge’s Letter

July 6, 2023 by Jonathan Leave a Comment


For Immediate Release:
July 6, 2023

Homeless Union responds to Judge’s insistence that unsheltered persons be cleared from the Courthouse; Cites possible bias, disregard of Judicial Ethics and California Rules of Court
Union to hold courthouse press conference at Noon, Tuesday, July 11, 2023

The Sacramento Homeless Union is concerned that a letter dated June 29, 2023, from Michael G. Bowman, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California for Sacramento demanding that the City of Sacramento remove unsheltered, unhoused persons from the courthouse may have violated the California Code of Judicial Ethics.

Says Crystal Sanchez, President of the Sacramento Homeless Union: “Judge Bowman’s letter paints a one-sided, greatly exaggerated picture of rampant crime at the Courthouse, allegedly committed by people who may not even be camping there, that is not supported by the police department’s own online crime maps.”

For the area including the Courthouse and the immediate vicinity, the crime map shows that for the entire period from June 1, 2023 through July 5, 2023 only three serious crimes were committed. The reports do not identify the housing status of the suspects or whether the alleged perpetrators were camped at the courthouse.

In addition, the Union is concerned that Judge Bowman’s letter may have implicated Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Ethics which states: “A judge shall not make statements, whether public or nonpublic, that commit the judge with respect to cases, controversies, or issues that are likely to come before the courts[.]” (California Code of Judicial Ethics, Canon 2A, Emphasis added.)

Says Prince, “By alleging “a growing number of encounters” between “the unsheltered” and members of the public and insisting that the City increase ‘code enforcement’ and “police presence” at and around the Courthouse because the unsheltered are “threatening access to justice,” we are concerned that Judge Bowman has committed himself to an issue that has already repeatedly been before the courts and is “likely to come before the courts.”

Indeed, as recently as last summer the Union was forced to go to court and obtain successive preliminary injunctions to stop the City from removing homeless persons from public spaces where they were trying to escape dangerously excessive heat. Last week, according to Prince, the City Attorney’s office used Judge Bowman’s letter to justify cutting off negotiations already underway aimed at an agreement to protect the homeless from this summer’s expected temperature extremes.

“The Superior Court should be a place where we are able to challenge – and have challenged — the constitutionality of City policies regarding the homeless, particularly when they involve affirmative acts that increase the risk of harm,” says Prince. “We feel that intended or not, the effect of Presiding Judge Bowman’s letter might make the courts less hospitable to such claims.”

Finally, the Union is concerned that Judge Bowman refused the Union’s formal, written request sent July 2, 2023, to meet with a delegation from the Union and discuss the issues raised in his letter. California Rules of Court require presiding judges to meet with or appoint other judges “to meet with any committee of the bench, bar, news media, or community to review problems and to promote understanding of the administration of justice, when appropriate.” (Calif. Rules of Court, Rule 10.603(c)(8)(B) (Emphasis added.)

Given that the Sacramento Homeless Union, representing some 2,700 unhoused and marginally housed Sacramentans, would seem to qualify as a “committee of the community,” the question arises whether Judge Bowman’s failure to meet with the Union or appoint another judge to do so is consistent with the rules.

“Judge Bowman frames his position as stemming from concerns about ‘access to justice’ says Prince. “But the tone and content of his letter could suggest a bias against the homeless that intended or not, could send a signal that in the Sacramento Superior Courts the unhoused “access to justice” may not include the unhoused.

PRESS CONFERENCE
12:00 Noon, Tuesday, July 11, 2023 Sacramento Superior Court, 915 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814

For further information, contact princelawoffices@yahoo.com or call 510-301-1472

Filed Under: California, Press Releases, Sacramento, WRAP Allies

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Urgent Help Needed Grants Pass is facing over 100 Urgent Help Needed 
Grants Pass is facing over 100F temperatures for the next 4 days Our homeless neighbors have no shelter, no shade & no water. Please help by donating bottled water or funds - we'll put every drop to good use! 
Venmo | Helen Cruz 
https://account.venmo.com/u/Helen-Cruz-30

Let's come together for those left in the heat, every bottle & dollar makes a difference
Community spirit and perspective and a cool organi Community spirit and perspective and a cool organizing training!
With sweeps and fascist policing/immigration tactics ramping up all over the country, we must make sure our initiatives to fight them are informed by, come from and are supported by the people who are directly impacted!!! Street outreach is how we do this!
https://conta.cc/46GwXKG
Join WRAP on Tuesday, July 22 on zoom at 3pm pt | Join WRAP on Tuesday, July 22 on zoom at 3pm pt | 4 pm mt | 6 pm et for a training on the different methodologies, context and implementation of street outreach! There will be examples from WRAP members who represent organizations in different states who have been fighting back against criminalization and sweeps in their communities.
Accountable organizing through street outreach! 

With sweeps and fascist policing/immigration tactics ramping up all over the country, we must make sure our initiatives to fight them are informed by, come from and are supported by the people who are directly impacted!!! 

Street outreach is how we do this! 

📣 WRAP : STREET OUTREACH TRAINING 
🗓️ Tuesday, July 22 | 🕒 3pm PT | 4pm MT | 6pm ET
🎟️ RSVP : bit.ly/wrapoutreach 
✉️ Contact joemae@wraphome.org for any questions

Read More: https://conta.cc/3ZXkCxS
Last year, on April 22nd, I stood with over 700 pe Last year, on April 22nd, I stood with over 700 people from around the country in front of the US Supreme Court demanding that the court focus on proven solutions to homelessness like housing, and not on things like handcuffs and jails that make homelessness worse. Months later, SCOTUS shamefully decided that homeless people are not included in the Constitution’s protections against cruel and unusual punishment and could be ticketed or arrested for simply sleeping outside. https://conta.cc/44m9rjl
The city continues to sneak in their sweeps of our The city continues to sneak in their sweeps of our friends and neighbors to nowhere. They sneak their sweeps in and hope those that care and give a sh&! against this violence won’t show up. We will do all we can to challenge this and won’t let the city block us from the community care they are afraid of.

Join us for a virtual gathering to learn how to show up, how to build community care. July 10th from 7-8:30pm. DM us for more info.

#sweepskill #fucksweeps #stopthesweeps #stoptheharrellhorrorshow #communitycare #showup
🏠Housing is a human right, and it is about time 🏠Housing is a human right, and it is about time our communities actually accept this!

On June 28th 2024, Grants Pass v Johnson was overturned (a case that had required cities to not criminalize the unhoused if adequate shelter was not provided by the city). On June 28th from 10am-12pm, we are asking our community to gather on the Missoula Courthouse lawn to show our city that we don’t support the ways they are criminalizing unhoused Missoulians. 📣

After the rally, from 12-2pm we will hear from various local organizations that are impacted and addressing this issue in our community. 🫂 From those working in the legal system to renters to mutual aid groups, our entire community is impacted by the overturning of Grants Pass v Johnson, the closure of the Johnson Street shelter, and the criminalization of unhoused Missoulians. Municipal elections are coming up this year and it is critical that we show city council where our priorities lie.
The Sovereign Roses Virtual Alumni Chapter invites The Sovereign Roses Virtual Alumni Chapter invites you to WRAP with the Roses! Learn more about the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) and a potential Project I.M.P.A.C.T area we’re exploring. WRAP is dedicated to ending homelessness and poverty by uplifting the voices of those directly impacted and advocating for systemic change rooted in justice and equity.
Discover why WEE believe that partnering with WRAP is a powerful step toward making a real, sustainable difference in our communities.

📅 Date: June 30

🕔 Time: 5:52 PM CST

📍 Zoom:
Meeting ID: 98812438845
Code: 567524

🌐 Learn more about WRAP: www.wraphome.org (http://www.wraphome.org/)

Together, we can push for change, challenge injustice, and build impact that lasts. Don’t miss this opportunity to get informed and get involved!

#GammaSigmaSigma #ServiceSorority #SRVAC #WRAP #Projectimpact #GSS #SFE #ServiceFriendshipEquailty
June 28th marks the One Year Anniversary of the Su June 28th marks the One Year Anniversary of the Supreme Court making it illegal to be homeless. Join me in the fight to push back! Helen Cruz
June 28 4-7pm | Echo Park Lake, LA for more inform June 28 4-7pm | Echo Park Lake, LA
for more information: @lacanetwork_official
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