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NAACP, clergy, citizens question judges about racial disparity in sentencingFORT WAYNE — Citizens might not have gotten all the answers they wanted when three of the area’s most well-known judges met with clergy last week, but in the eyes of some, it was at least a start toward addressing criminal justice issues that long have plagued members of the black community.Nearly two dozen ministers— primarily' from the Fort Wayne Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA)—and 40 others including civil rights advocates, the NAACP and a number of concerned citizens met Feb. 22 with the Hons. Fran Gull, John Surbeck and Kenneth Scheibenberger at Heatland Community Church to discuss problems they perceive in the criminal justice system—particularly the disparity in sentencing between whites and blacks who commit similar crimes as outlined in local and national statis-Photo by Michael F. PattersonRev. Sylvester Hunter, pastor of Union Baptist Church, ask a question of the judges.tics.“We thought it would be good that we be able to talk to judges outside the courtroom,” explainedthe Rev. Michael Latham, president of the local NAACP and meeting organizer.Latham said he invited the three judges because they have long been willing to talk with the NAACP, IMA and citizens about court and other criminal justice problems he and others regularly attempt to address, and are forthright in their answers.“All of them have been very open,” said Latham. “They will let you know what they can and can’t do.”While audience members asked a number of questions about what they perceive as systemic differences in the way blacks and whites are treated with regard to various felonies and misdemeanors, the bulk of the meeting focused on two Allen County murder cases— Christopher Hilton and Joseph Wilson.(See “ Judges” on Page 4).
Newspaper Details
Fort Wayne Frost Illustrated
Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
Wed, Feb 27, 2002
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 Jul 2023
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