Justice Should Matter Initiative

What is the quality of your intent?

Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering.

What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through.

We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create.

We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent.

My intent will be evident in the results.

by:
Thurgood Marshall - 1st African American Supreme Court Jurist
Grandson of a slave

Justice Louis Butler

Justice Louis B. Butler Jr.

Justice Butler was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Jim Doyle in August 2004, becoming the first African-American Supreme Court justice in Wisconsin history.

Born in Chicago, Justice Butler was raised on the city’s south side. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University in Appleton in 1973 and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1977.

After serving as an assistant state public defender from 1979 to 1992, Justice Butler was appointed to the Milwaukee Municipal Court. He served as a municipal judge until 2002, when he was elected to Branch 9 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Justice Butler is the recipient of numerous awards. In 2006, he was named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the American Federation of Teachers, Local 212. In 2005, he won the NAACP Foot Soldiers’ Award and the Outstanding Citizen’s Award from the Wisconsin Council of Deliberations, Prince Hall Masons. He also received the 2002 and 2004 Trail Blazer Award presented by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Justice Butler is a permanent member of the faculty of the National Judicial College in Reno, where judges from around nation take continuing education classes, and serves as a member of the bench in the Southwestern Law School Moot Court Competition in Los Angeles. He also was an adjunct assistant professor of law at Marquette Law School.

Justice Butler is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bar Association, NAACP, Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers, Community Brainstorming Conference, Personnel Review Board, and James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court.

Justice Butler is married with two daughters and two grandchildren.

His term expires July 31, 2008.

Attorney Lloyd Barbee

A Drum Major for Milwaukee Public Schools Desegregation

Welcome to the:

JUSTICE SHOULD MATTER page

The Justice Should Matter Initiative is another plank of the 5-Year Signature Plan (2005–2010).

It is designed to educate and foster better awareness for a more “just” society.

For the year 2007–2008, Campaign Neighborhood - CNFBA will sponsor in partnership with universities, colleges, law firms, legal association and others with interest, a series of Chautauquas/TALKS to promote truth and awareness regarding subjects that affect our society, especially issues that impact quality of life and economic development for People of Color and the Working Poor.

A special emphasis will be on:

Alternatives for “Justice Serve”
Correctional Employment
Incarceration
Pre-, Interim and Post correctional care

* Prosecution & Racial Justice National Pilot Project

Support Programs
Truth & Sentencing (re-visted)

2008 Focus - Auditor Year

The 5-Year Signature Plan (2005–2010) has chosen the work of this year to be centered around assessment for linkage, best practice, code of conduct and accountability.

Initiative: JUSTICE SHOULD MATTER

For year 2008, we will look at the law; and, the process and procedures of the Criminal Justice arena, e.g., law enforcement, district attorney, public defender, private lawyers, federal district attorney, courts, media, and correctional sites.

Our areas of review will include:

Incarceration in Wisconsin - The LAW
Issues Unique to Milwaukee (Now and Then)
Issues While/After Incarceration
Employment After Incarceration
The Hook-up
Voting After Incarceration
Neigborhood Partnership through Neighborhood Governance
Truth & Sentencing “Revisited”
The VERA Project

Chautauqua Series
* August 20–22, 2007

The Kickoff event for the Justice Should Matter Series was during the August 20, 2007, 5-Year Signature Plan Benchmarking Conference, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Milwaukee Center for Independence, 2020 W. Wells.

The man who helped inspired a title for the “just” issues of the 5-Year Signature Plan, “Justice Should Matter” Initiative was the keynote speaker for Day One - Attorney Joe Sommers, Oregon, Wisconsin.

Attorney Sommers was a Wisconsin Supreme Court Spring 2007 Candidate. He was the “Justice Should Matter Candidate”.

His unwavering courage regarding successfully defending men of color and pointing to injustice by those who are sworn to uphold law - judges, attorneys and others in the justice system, demanded us to name the initiative, Justice Should Matter.

August 20, 2007 Justice Speakers
In addition to Attorney Sommers keynote speech, there was, “A Look at Incarceration and Justice” panels. They included:

* Tom Mulligan, Executive Director, Re-Entry Employment Resource Center, Grand Rapids, MI
* Sue Eckhart - Program Director, Justice 2000, Milwaukee Court Alternative Program
* Nick Sayner - Program Director, Justice 2000, AODA & Mental Health
* Nichole Yunk - Program Director, Justice 2000, Employment & Re-Entry.

Attorney Wayne McKenzie and District Attorney John Chisholm were re-scheduled.

* October 9–10, 2007
Attorney Wayne McKenzie, Project Director, VERA Institute of Justice, New York, will join us for a reception and briefing presentation.

He is the Program Director for Vera Institute - Prosecution and Racial Justice National Pilot Project. This is a pilot project that includes three counties in the United States; one is Milwaukee County.

District Attorney John Chisholm will provide Opening Remarks and Introduce Attorney McKenzie.

The host site:
Marquette University, Law School, Sensenbrenner Hall.

Moderator:
Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Campaign Neighborhood - CFNBA

For more go to the HOME page.

For more about Attorney Joe Sommers, go to: http://www.sommersforsupremecourt.com.

COMING SOON - BY POPULAR DEMAND

October 9–10, 2007

VERA INSTITUTE, New York
Vera’s Prosecution and Racial Justice project (P&RJ)

Attorney Wayne McKenzie, Project Director of Vera’s Prosecution and Racial Justice Project, will be on hand for two (2) SPECIAL occasions to share information about the Vera Project and his national DA/District Attorney pilot project that includes Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office.

We feel this is an opportunity for the “citizenry” to voice-in leadership that will help improve “racial justice” in our prosecution system here in Milwaukee county.

For more about the VERA Project, visit: http://www.vera.org

Milwaukee County’s District Attorney, John Chisholm will provide Opening Remarks and introduce Attorney Wayne McKenzie, VERA Institute

Phone:(414) 278–4653

DA Chisholm is one of the three (3) district attorneys involved in VERA’s national study. The other two counties are in North Carolina and California.

Campaign Neighborhood - CFNBA is proud to partner with Marquette University - Law School, to bring these two forums to the public. It is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity for you to weigh in.

Free to the Public

Reception - Tuesday, Oct. 9, 5:00–7:00pm (Sensenbrenner Hall, Room 302)
Neighborhood Morning Briefing - Wednesday, Oct. 10, 8:00–10:00am (Sensenbrenner Hall, Room 325)

Mary Glass, Chair/CEO is the Moderator

Host Site: Marquette University - Law School