Justice continues to allude Genarlow Wilson. Just when it seemed within his grasp, Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker announced that he would appeal a decision by Monroe County Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Wilson to let this young man go free.The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
Genarlow Wilson's attorney bought him an outfit from Ralph Lauren to wear the day Wilson walks out of prison. But for now, that outfit will stay in a box.
As will Wilson. On Monday, a Monroe County judge ordered Wilson's release, ruling that a mandatory 10-year prison sentence was a cruel and unusual punishment for consensual oral sex between teenagers. The announcement was greeted by tears and joy from Wilson's mother and attorney, and from thousands of supporters around the country outraged by such a clear case of injustice.
But that jubilation proved short-lived. Within an hour of the judge's decision, word came that Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker would appeal the judge's ruling to the state Supreme Court. It's unclear now whether Wilson will be freed during the appeal process.
"This is wrong," said attorney B. J. Bernstein as she read the notice of Baker's appeal. "There is nothing right about this."
I agree with the AJC who says, "It's not just wrong, it's a senseless outrage." And when they ask how justice is served by making a young man with no prior record remain in prison for a decade due to a poorly written law. How is justice served?
Monroe County Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Wilson wrote:
"The fact that Genarlow Wilson has spent two years in prison for what is now classified as a misdemeanor ... and will spend eight more years in prison is a grave miscarriage of justice. If any case fits into the definitive limits of a miscarriage of justice, surely this case does."
The judge added, "If this court, or any court, cannot recognize the injustice of what has occurred here, then our court system has lost sight of the goal our judicial system has always strived to accomplish ... Justice being served in a fair and equal matter."
Genarlow's mother Juannessa Bennett reacted as any mother would to the news that her son was being set free. Her joy, however, was short lived.
Let's flood the email accounts of Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker at Agbaker@law.ga.gov, and at thurbert.baker@law.state.ga.us. Fill his answering machine my calling 404-656-3300, and send faxes to 404-657-8733. Baker needs to hear what a gross injustice it would be to keep Genarlow in prison.
Remind Baker that the Atlanta Journal Constitution says "he has lost any sense of perspective on justice" and "may lose his . . job as well."
For other contact information go to: Bombard Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker
And see: Save Genarlow Wilson, Remove District Attorney Thurbert Baker and Genarlow Wilson Video and more TGW Genarlow posts.
Thank you to Tennessee Guerilla Women for the tip on this story.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
PH: 404-656-3300
FX: 404-657-8733
2 comments:
Thanks for the link, and for publicizing this great injustice.
The Today Show did a fairly good piece on Genarlow this morning. I hope it helps.
BAC
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