I’m grateful to the @ABAesq (although this sane and modest statement could have come much sooner) b/c when the dust settles our profession will be ripe for some close examination. Thousands of Black and Latino ppl face a justice system every day that is harsh & unforgiving. 1/
Inferences are regularly decided against them. Credibility is judged based on evidence. Sworn statements are the coin of the realm. Law enforcement investigations are prized for accuracy and impartiality - even when unwarranted. 2/
False statements are damning. Even slight discrepancies in sworn testimony - especially when contradicted by documents - are exploited. 3/
Of course a confirmation process is not a criminal or civil trial. But to see prominent members of our profession - including some on the SJC - behave as though they don’t know what conclusions to draw from an accumulation of credibility issues ...4/
...don’t see the value of an FBI investigation of sworn accusations of violence, embrace the withholding of relevant documents in a record & the concealing of others, see no problem w/releasing thousands of documents the night before a hearing 5/
...is deeply damaging to our profession and to the respect we want those who face the harsh hand of procedural justice every day, to have for our justice system. 6/
