Lecture at Fordham Law School

Yes, I’m addicted. I drove hundreds of miles to attend a lecture at the Fordham Law School. The topic was “Journalism & the Law”. Wow, two of my favorite topics. The panel was comprised of many top TV journalist who also happen to be attorneys and legal correspondents. I was very interested. It started with a mixer (wine, soda, etc).

There was a book signing, interesting conversation about the Supreme Court and more interesting questions from the audience. I met several people and happened to sit right in front of a sharp-witted criminal defense attorney from Long Island. She was a firecracker. She lit into the panel with question after question. Really, she was upset about the disparity in news coverage given to poor black men. It does seem this demographic continually finds it’s way onto the nightly news.

I was appalled by the attitude of one of the panelist. He seemed to think the justice system treats everyone FAIRLY. He referenced his nearly 20 years of criminal law practice (claiming to only have had about 4-5 cases that turned out questionable) but had the audacity to preface his ill-guided comments with a reference to Project Innocence. Well, how fair can the system be based on that last reference? Clearly, it’s not always fair! Let’s ask someone in Dallas County, Texas how fair the system has been in the past to black men.