I want to talk about how junk science ruins innocent lives.

The criminal legal system is overwhelmed by junk science.

IT IS AN OUTRAGE.

If you're not deeply disturbed by what's going on, I need you to pay close attention.

Let me explain. 🧵/x Shows like CSI have shaped the way that juries see forensic evidence.

There's a myth that this type of evidence is infallible. That is simply untrue and has led to wrongful convictions and even wrongful executions!

2/x

Whenever I post anything about the cops, my replies are constantly filled with people who are like "NOT ALL COPS." So l tried to put together a cogent analogy to help them understand why it IS ALL COPS. 🧵/x What if one out of every few batches of cars that a car factory shipped out blew up and killed people, would you trust one of those cars not to kill you? 2/x

TW: Miscarriage

I have never shared this publicly before but I had a miscarriage.

I’d like to share the story.

It was a handful of years ago. I found out I was pregnant! I wasn’t showing. I felt like I was going to vomit all the time—wouldn’t call it “morning” sickness.🧵1/x In my mind I knew that most miscarriages happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. Miscarriages can also be more likely if you’re considered geriatric. So we waited to tell people. 2/x

🧵Hi. I want to talk about crime and safety.

For background, I'm a 13-year career public defender who ran for Manhattan DA last year. 1/ For the record, I firmly believe Democrats DO need to take public safety seriously, but we need a serious reclaiming of what that term means. 2/

I am vaccinated and boosted and regularly tested for COVID-19, and I just tested positive.

I’m feeling fine and so grateful for the protection my vaccines continue to provide! Everyone, please go get vaccinated and boosted ASAP.

If you're in NYC, find a location for your vaccine here:
nyc.gov/vaccinefinder

This moment, right here, represents what this campaign is all about. THREAD. 1/x If you've been following me for a while, you already know Jessica. She's a dear friend, an inspiration — and, as a public defender, I'm proud to say she is a former client. 2/x

If you're not watching @aoc's instagram live, turn it on immediately.

She's walking through what happened at the Capitol on January 6th. She is truly incredible.

Opening up, being vulnerable. Talking about being the victim of an assault.

But then making a "that's weird, that's suspicious" TikTok reference.

Seriously, turn on @aoc's IG live now. Now. NOW.

Wow. If you're not watching this @aoc IG live talking about her experience last Wednesday, turn it on immediately. She speaks with grace, clarity, and passion about the events. She is truly incredible. She says it was extremely traumatizing and it is not an exaggeration to say many members of the house were nearly assassinated. She cannot even talk about the attack because she had a close encounter where she thought she was going to lose her life. She narrowly escaped death.

Today's International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Lately we've seen public discourse about sex work, so let's discuss.

As a public defender for my entire career, I have always and will continue to advocate for the full decriminalization of consensual sex work. 1/9 We must decriminalize sex work in order to protect sex workers from police violence, help sex workers access health care, lower the risk of violence from clients, reduce mass incarceration, and advance equality in the LGBTQ community... 2/9

This evening marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when we take a moment to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. 1/
#RoshHashanah This has been an incredibly trying year — full of threats to our safety, health, natural and manmade disasters, economic insecurity, and systemic injustice. My hope is that the coming year brings us joy and peace, as well as much needed progress. 2/

Tonight, America saw Elizabeth Warren make the case for Joe Biden the way only she can: with passion, with power, and (as always) with a plan. 1/ My love for Elizabeth Warren has been no secret. I've been a huge Warren supporter for a long time. When I met her a year ago, I told her I was planning to run for Manhattan DA and that she was an inspiration to me. After months of planning, we finally launched on March 5th. 2/

I hope even Manhattan DA Cy Vance will agree that "megaphoning while Black" should not be considered a violent felony.

gothamist.com/news/protest-l… Update: this case was written up by the Manhattan DA’s office as a violent felony. Assault in the 2nd degree carries a penalty of up to 7 years in state prison.

Six months ago, I’d never been a candidate for anything. I’d never even been part of a political campaign, except as a volunteer. I’d spent my time representing people as a public defender, not making political connections. 1/7 And, to be honest, when I started out I wasn’t entirely sure the usual political conversation was ready for the kind of change I know we need. 2/7

This is serious. Happened today in Manhattan. As a public defender for over a decade, I have tried cases where the Manhattan DA uses a "hysterical 911 call" as categorical evidence of guilt. Usually there's no video like this to refute it. (1/4)

https://twitter.com/melodyMcooper/status/1264965252866641920

What happens: White lady calls the cops on Black man. Cops believe her. He gets arrested and then arraigned. Outrageous bail gets set. His family cannot afford to buy his freedom. He gets sent to Rikers Island, where he sits for any number of days, months, or years. (2/4)

Weeks ago: “...the simple truth is that the virus doesn’t care which side of the prison walls you happen to be on. The more people it spreads to the more people are in danger. Period. Full stop.” Now: Peopke are dying. Judges are dying. 1/x

3 NY judges dead, another 14 judges infected, 170 court workers infected. 2/x
google.com/amp/s/nypost.c…

Not only is there a lifetime voting ban for anyone convicted of a felony in Iowa, (as of January 2020, Iowa is the *only* state that imposes a lifetime voting bans), but if you try to vote, they go after you and prosecute you for voting.

apnews.com/07409d1e264549… apnews.com/07409d1e264549…

In Iowa, a Clinton man who is disabled from a brain injury was prosecuted after he mistakenly believed poll workers would alert him if there was a problem with his voting eligibility.

This morning while walking my dog, I found an unattended pair of Ray Ban sunglasses in a case. I picked them up and looked around to see if their owner had dropped them. Then I looked for NYPD officers waiting to arrest whoever picked them up. (THREAD 1/x) You may be wondering why I thought by picking these sunglasses up, I might be a target for arrest. We see an uptick in “Lucky Bag” cases around the holidays. The NYPD calls it “Operation Lucky Bag,” where they plant unattended valuables & arrest the person who picks them up. 2/x

Here we go!! #DemDebate #TeamWarren "Sometimes there are issues that are bigger than politics." YES, @ewarren!! WE MUST PURSUE impeachment!

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

#DemDebate #TeamWarren

I can’t tell you how many clients of mine have been arrested by the NYPD & prosecuted by Manhattan DA, Cy Vance for felony failure to register. They’re almost all poor people of color, who sometimes only missed registration because they changed shelters.

nypost.com/2019/07/10/nyp… Meanwhile, Jeffrey Epstein, for whom the Manhattan DA argued for leniency, has been allowed to skip his mandatory registration. Prosecutors told his registration officer to merely send Epstein a letter, reminding him of his reporting requirement.

While most people are enjoying their turkey and pie hangovers today, I’m in court during the day today and night court tonight 5pm-1am. So though I was able to enjoy my Thanksgiving with my family yesterday, my thoughts were with my clients who spent their Thanksgiving on Rikers. Many of whom are not guilty of a single crime and are there solely because they are poor and unable to pay bail to get them out while their case is pending. I am thankful for my amazing colleagues who work 365 days a year in that hellish place to bring humanity to them.