Justice
What, to the Republican, is the nineteenth of June?
The headline above pays homage to one of the most powerful and brilliant speeches in American history. Frederick Douglass, the 19th century’s most eloquent abolitionist, was asked to speak at an Independence Day celebration in Rochester, New York, on July 5, 1852, and he asked his White audience a most provocative question: “What, to the […]
ACLU condemns state’s proposed lethal injection plan for Zane Floyd
The Nevada Department of Corrections’ plan to use a never-before-tried combination of drugs to kill Zane Floyd, in what would be the state’s first execution in 15 years, was blasted by the ACLU of Nevada on Friday. In a statement, Jen Shomshor, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU, said the “vagaries about which drugs […]
AG Ford, community organizers highlight criminal justice reform successes, failures
It took a decade of organizing and five legislative sessions for Nevada to embrace a long-sought criminal justice reform to decriminalize minor traffic tickets such as driving with a broken taillight. Assembly Bill 116, which converts most minor traffic offenses to civil infractions to prevent jail time, was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Steve […]
7 notable bills that passed on Memorial Day, briefly explained
During the last day of the 2021 Legislative session, all eyes were fixed on the last minute bill taxing the mining industry. But lawmakers also passed a slew of legislation in the final hours, including long-overdue criminal justice reforms, steps toward creating a public health option, and the end of Nevada’s state-run caucus in favor […]
Labeled ‘stop and frisk’ by critics, MGM’s gun bill squeaks past Senate
An MGM-backed bill to strengthen enforcement of gun bans in casinos narrowly passed the Senate on Wednesday and faces an uncertain future in the Assembly. Senate Bill 452, an emergency bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, would make it a misdemeanor to carry or possess a firearm on casino properties that have chosen […]
Prison system’s approach to inmates’ money bewilders legislators
A fiscal note attached to legislation that caps how much money prison officials can withdraw from an inmate’s accounts confused lawmakers Wednesday. State Sen. Melanie Scheible, who presented Senate Bill 22 to the Senate Finance Committee, said the bill would cap the prison system’s share of money sent to inmates by friends and family at […]
House OKs commission to probe Jan. 6 attack, but McConnell objections may doom it
WASHINGTON–The U.S. House voted Wednesday 252-175 to give the go-ahead to the formation of an independent, bipartisan commission that would investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, despite objections from Republican leaders that the scope of the commission was not wide enough and other investigations are ongoing. Thirty-five Republicans joined with Democrats in […]
Amodei joins Dems voting to condemn Atlanta shooting, racism against Asian Americans
WASHINGTON–The U.S. House on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning the March 16 mass shooting in Atlanta and reaffirming Congress’ commitment to combating racism and violence against the Asian American community, which has seen a spike in hate crimes since the onset of the pandemic. The resolution, H.Res. 275, passed, 245-180, though more than a dozen Republicans […]
‘We need answers’: Fed up with Dem inaction, reformers trek to Carson City
When reform advocates helped get many lawmakers elected in 2020, they thought they were sending legislators to Carson City to pass bold criminal justice reforms, enact laws that root out systemic racism, and implement the will of the community. Speaking at a rally Monday in front of the Nevada Legislature, many were disappointed by much […]
Sisolak issues final blow to death penalty abolition legislation
A three-part cocktail sealed the fate of death penalty abolition this session: a district attorney association that was staunchly against the bill, state Senators who also work as prosecutors who refused to give the legislation a hearing, and finally a Democratic governor who was opposed. After saying for months he didn’t support a complete abolition […]
Prosecutor senators pressed to quit foot-dragging on death penalty abolition bill
If Nevada Democratic state senators — including key senators who are also Clark County prosecutors — refuse to advance legislation to abolish the death penalty, they should be replaced by senators who will, abolition advocates said Monday. Assembly Bill 395, which would repeal capital punishment and has been staunchly opposed by district attorneys throughout the […]
Mother breaks down recalling Sparks police killing of mentally ill son
Miciah Lee was a Mother’s Day baby. He would have turned 20 on Wednesday. Instead of celebrating, Lee’s mother, Susan Klopp, spent Monday afternoon telling Nevada legislators about the night last year when she called police. Klopp says she told the dispatcher her then-18-year-old mentally ill son wanted to commit suicide. Klopp says Sparks police […]