Post

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
Click again on or Share Via icon
Click on Copy Link to Tweet
Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
More info at Twitter Help

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

Oct 24, 2022 • 15 tweets • 6 min read • Read on X

Scrolly

Fiona Apple has a story for you. And it’s incredible. Asked me to share.

She's become an avid, trained Court Watcher. Her observations helped people jailed pretrial file a civil rights lawsuit. Then came the retaliation. Shut off her access to court.

A video story in 8 parts:

“Lets talk about courtrooms!” Fiona Apple’s story begins w/ the Constitutional right to open courts. During COVID, courts closed. Silver lining: Virtual Zoom access for public. Anyone could attend court. Hold actors accountable.

Fiona started Court Watching in PG County, MD.

“Welcome to the fucking word, lady!” Part two of Fiona Apple’s story is a basic, necessary civic’s lesson. On what happens in court after arrest. On bail hearings. On how she sees prosecutors berating people for not having $50.

And on how no one in court really follows the law:

Part three of Fiona Apple’s story: She explains the unique, unconstitutional system in PG County, MD. Where judges illegally abdicate their release decision to *local jailers.* And people Fiona’s there to protect are detained *indefinitely.*

This is the subject of the lawsuit:

This is not hyperbole. But the fourth part of Fiona Apple’s story is one of the clearest, most succinct, & powerful explanations of the impact of pretrial detention. Not just on individuals but on families and communities.

"Every time you touch this system, it sticks to you."

@CourtWatchPG

Heres where Fiona Apple’s story gets sinister. Fiona & @CourtWatchPG's observations helped a civil rights lawsuit. Then: “What do you think happened when that lawsuit dropped? They took our fucking Zoom access away."

"It really seems like theyre retaliating against us.” Part 5:

Fiona Apple recounts one of the worst impacts of PG County, MD illegally taking Zoom access away & being unable even to hear what’s happening in court: They can’t give public defenders support identifying ppl in desperate need.

They have no idea who is who. Part six:

Fiona Apple: “I don’t know exactly what to do about all this stuff except to keep court watching & spread information.” Fiona Apple is a true one. Cares so deeply about shedding a light.

"I'm just hoping that the audience that receives this is going to care." Part seven:

Fiona Apple, Court Watcher:"Just think all of those people in there having their lives, family, community upended. A ripple effect. Bc theyre forgotten. W/ no help. Being treated like they're not even human. Please care."

"Thank you for listening. And I hope I made some sense."

Here is more information on the lawsuit Fiona Apple's courtroom observations helped support on behalf of so many people being illegally detained in Prince George's County, MD.

https://twitter.com/ScottHech/status/1549812407920250880?s=20&t=BqEa_uovq1gWaAQaD88bng

What can you do? First: Sign up to Court Watch! Google Court Watch programs in your area. Ones I know: New Orleans, LA, Baltimore, DC, Chicago, NYC. Some are virtual like Court Watch PG. You can Court Watch from anywhere. More help needed now than ever. courtwatchpg.com

More: Prince George's County, MD & the judges who were sued filed a motion to dismiss. I read through the whole thing. They essentially admit everything. But argue that they should be allowed to continue indefinitely detaining people.

Tomorrow is the hearing. Show up if you can

Just to be exceptionally clear here: The *community & court watchers in Prince George's County, MD* asked Fiona to share this story. Fiona is deeply committed to support the local movement. Nothing for them, without them. Nothing about them, without them.

https://twitter.com/ScottHech/status/1584525192159580163?s=20&t=ISIh-LmMEAEDMmMn5_iNSw

This is incredible. Read this angry, privileged screed from PG County's motion to dismiss the civil rights law suit. Disparaging volunteer Court Watchers. "An army of volunteers, untrained in the law, to watch & make ... impassioned complaints ... w/ little or no legal import."

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @ScottHech

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

Nov 4

As a public defender in Brooklyn, I spent years in courtrooms watching lives decided in minutes—with no one watching, listening, or caring. So many voices went unheard.

That’s why Teen Vogue’s politics team mattered so much. And why their loss hurts. 🧵
hollywoodreporter.com/business/busin…

“More police aren’t the answer to rising violence in Chicago.” — Public Defender

This piece called out fear-based policing and asked what safety rooted in care might look like.
teenvogue.com/story/rising-c…

Read 21 tweets

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

Aug 25

Trump announced today he's ending “cashless bail” in DC & threatening cities across the country. It’s all based on fear—not facts. I was a public defender for a decade. I work with orgs across the country.

Here’s what’s really true about bail, crime, & safety. 🧵

Everywhere that’s reduced pretrial jailing—even modestly—has seen the same outcome: more safety, more freedom, and massive cost savings. That’s not spin.

It’s data, across wildly different jurisdictions. justjournalism.org/page/bail-refo…

We know why pretrial freedom works: when people are free, they keep jobs, care for families, get meds, access housing, go to treatment. Pretrial incarceration doesn’t solve problems—it creates them.

And freedom doesn’t mean danger. It means opportunity. gatheringforfreedom.org

Read 14 tweets

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

May 11

This may be the most important post you read today.

As we see ICE escalating violence against immigrants & citizens alike, below is a shareable film series by immigration lawyers on how to safely defend against ICE.

Feeling helpless? Here’s something you can do. Read on:

The Constitution protects us from ICE.

🚨If ICE is outside your door, don’t panic & remember: YOU HAVE RIGHTS. Don’t open the door. Ask to see a warrant. ICE can’t enter w/o one.

All 5 videos. 8 languages. At .

Watch and share: wehaverights.us

The Constitution protects immigrants & citizens from ICE.

🚨 Rights don’t just stop at the doorway. If ICE makes their way inside of your home remember: YOU HAVE RIGHTS.

All 5 videos. 8 languages. At .

Watch and share: wehaverights.us

Read 7 tweets

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

Mar 3

For all learning of disgraced Gov. Cuomo's narcissistic return to politics w/ a run for NYC Mayor, this this thread is for you.

People seem to love him. I & people who know his policies have long despised him & his abject cruelty & injustice. Receipts in no particular order:

https://x.com/rontkim/status/1250814398572216321

Andrew Cuomo transferred elderly incarcerated people at high risk of death from COVID to a *prison nursing home* instead of releasing them.

"It's like they just sent us to just fade away and die."

https://x.com/rontkim/status/1250814398572216321

In 2019, Governor Cuomo hired *500 more cops* to exact violence & mayhem on the subways. Here’s just one example as maskless NYPD cops pushing a man out of the subway after asking them to wear masks at the beginning of COVID.

One of so many examples:

Read 19 tweets

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

Feb 18

For all new to NYC Mayor Eric Adams & being appalled by him, his corruption, & general weirdness, this thread is for you.

I’ve been following his behavior since his run for office in 2021. Here’s some truth on the worst mayor in NYC History. Receipts in no particular order:

NYC Mayor Eric Adams lied about the fact that he carried around a photo of a fallen police officer. After he lied about it, he had his staff make him a fake, weathered looking photo for him to start carrying around. You cannot make this up! rollingstone.com/politics/polit…

https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/1748486055160889391

In his *very first act as Mayor* Eric Adams expanded solitary confinement on Rikers. City Council condemned him. He shot back: "Unless you’ve been a cop your opinion doesn’t matter."

Pushed ahead. 2 years later, claimed he was “against solitary.”

https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/1748486055160889391

Read 43 tweets

Scott Hechinger

@ScottHech

Feb 8

As Trump works to punish people he despises, NY prosecutors & @GovKathyHochul doing the same: fighting to kill “discovery reform.” A law simply requiring prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense. Their gripe: Too much work to collect, copy, & send it to the defense. Really.

Marvin spent 11 months on Rikers. For drug possession. Prosecutors withheld the most critical piece of evidence: drug lab. The pressure to plead got better of him. Today, prosecutors have to turn over evidence earlier. His case would have been dismissed.

Craig was charged w/ hindering prosecution. Then: NY "discovery" laws prevented him from learning the accusations. He was acquitted, but late disclosure of evidence kept him locked up for close to a year. Now: prosecutors want to return to this injustice.