Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
August 24th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
Film maker Daniel Alexander will be interviewed about his movie, Freeing Bernie Baran, this evening on Austin Texas radio station KOOP at 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time, 7 p.m. Eastern.
The movie will premier at the Austin Gay/Lesbian film festival on September 11.
I will be listening live. Please join me by clicking here.
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Baran, Innocents | Comments Off on Film Maker Interviewed about Freeing Bernie Baran
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
August 18th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Reverend John M. Swomley, father of Bernard Baran’s lawyer, John G. Swomley. I never met the elder Swomley, but I know that his values were deeply instilled into his son, who achieved the exoneration of Baran and has fought for justice and civil liberties on so many fronts.
Here is an obituary of a most remarkable man: http://forusa.org/blogs/ethan-vesely-flad/john-swomley-leader-dies-95
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Baran, Innocents | 1 Comment »
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
August 17th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
The Second Court of Appeals upheld Jesse Friedman’s conviction, but only because the habeas petition was filed too late. In a strongly worded opinion, the Court made clear that they felt a miscarriage of justice had occurred and were sharply critical of the police, the prosecution, and the trial judge. The Court suggested that the case should be reopened at the state level.
The Nassau Conty DA’s office says it is giving the ruling “serious thought and consideration.” So there is some hope that justice may yet be served.
Jesse believes that it was the social science research that carried the day with the Court’s opinion. This research was provided to Jesse’s lawyer by NCRJ Directors Debbie Nathan and Emily Horowitz.
Here is the Article in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/nyregion/17friedmans.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion
Here is the full decision: http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=infco20100816067
Posted in Innocents | Comments Off on Friedman Conviction Most Reluctantly Upheld
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
August 10th, 2010
Posted in Innocents | Comments Off on As if Massachusetts Didn't Have Enough Bad Judges, Governor Patrick Wants One More
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
August 6th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
This morning I received the sad news that Robert Aitken, an eminent Buddhist teacher and scholar, had died at the age of 93.
http://robertaitken.blogspot.com/2010/08/goodbye-dad-grandfather-papa-friend.html
Roshi was a true friend of justice, as is his son, Tom. They contacted me many years ago after learning about the case of Bernard Baran from Katha Pollitt’s first column in The Nation. Both contributed financially to Baran’s cause and spread the word about this great injustice. Roshi also regularly corresponded with Baran while he was still behind bars.
Roshi also sent Baran many of his wonderful books. Some were passed on to me and I treasure them.
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Baran, Innocents | Comments Off on R.I.P. Robert Aitken Roshi
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
August 4th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
This was posted on the blog of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: http://blogs.masslawyersweekly.com/news/2010/08/03/bernard-baran-can-sue-original-attorneys/
The decision will probably be appealed. But I think we have a reasonable hope or prevailing.
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Baran, Innocents | Comments Off on Judge Kern: Baran Lawsuit May Proceed
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
July 21st, 2010
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/_the_listing_of.html
I for one am not sorry to see her go. She is no friend of the falsely accused and wrongfully convicted,
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Innocents | Comments Off on Massachusetts Chief Justice to Retire
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
July 17th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
In Ohio, prosecutors leave no stone unturned in their relentless pursuit of injustice.
I wish this horrible case would get some national publicity.
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/07/17/news/mj3037730.txt
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Innocents, Smith/Allen | Comments Off on Rabid Ohio DA and Attorney General Want Nancy Smith Back in Prison Too
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
July 11th, 2010
Posted in Innocents, Prisons | Comments Off on Victor Rosario is Now an Ordained Minister
Friends of Justice is a personal blog. Here I speak only for myself.
July 11th, 2010
Dear Friend of Justice,
I wish I could say that this story surprised me: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/?s_campaign=8315
This will come as no surprise to those who have read the excellent Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson.
-Bob Chatelle
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Depressing News Story
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