Leading Justice Reform Advocates Call on Speaker Filler-Corn, Majority Leader Herring to Commit to Reform-Minded Committee Leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2019
ARLINGTON, VA – Justice Forward Virginia, the foremost organization dedicated to advancing criminal justice reform in Virginia, calls on Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and Majority Leader Charniele Herring to fulfill their promise of substantive criminal justice reform by filling Courts of Justice subcommittee leadership with delegates with a proven track record of supporting criminal justice reform, such as:
Jennifer Carroll Foy (Woodbridge)
Marcus Simon (Falls Church)
Joe Lindsey (Norfolk)
Patrick Hope (Arlington)
Jeff Bourne (Richmond)
In addition, Justice Forward Virginia and its partners request that Delegate Herring, as Chair of the Courts of Justice committee, designate one of the four subcommittees as the Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee, led by one of the five proven reform-minded delegates above.
“As we saw on November 5th, voters want the General Assembly to take a fresh look at our criminal legal system,” said Brad Haywood, President of Justice Forward Virginia. “We need reform-minded legislators to lead the Courts of Justice committee’s four subcommittees. We can’t continue the tired tradition of these subcommittees being the place where ‘good bills go to die.’ Now that Delegate Herring is serving as both Majority Leader and Chair of the Courts of Justice committee, we’re excited for the opportunity to bring Virginia into the 21st century when it comes to criminal justice.”
The 2020 session of the General Assembly begins on January 8th. A number of reform bills have been filed, with many more expected. Justice Forward Virginia and its partners look forward to the possibility of passing reforms ending the trial penalty, ensuring an informed jury sentencing process, and adjusting the funding incentives for prosecutors to overcharge felonies, among many other bills. Subcommittee hearings and votes, the first stage of the legislative process, will be key to advancing the reform priorities that voters overwhelming supported in the June 11th primaries and November 5th general election. Leadership in these subcommittees are therefore important decisions for Courts of Justice Chair, Charniele Herring.
Justice Forward Virginia hopes that House leadership will continue to weigh delegates’ stances on reform in their leadership decisions.
On January 17th, Justice Forward Virginia will be hosting its third annual Justice Reform Lobby Day and Defenders’ Day of Action to support key pieces of legislation. The event is free to attend and welcomes participants of all backgrounds and political stripes. Interested persons can sign up here.
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Justice Forward Virginia is a non-partisan political action committee created to bring attention to the urgent need for criminal justice reform in the Commonwealth - at the most fundamental level - and to support candidates for state and local office who advocate for comprehensive reforms to our justice system.