News Roundup: Republican Debate, Disability Rights, Trump's Election Case, & Child Arrest Trends

Get ready for a dynamic episode of Unveiling as civil rights lawyer and co-host Ashley Jacobson takes the helm for an insightful news roundup. In this episode, Ashley delves deep into the crucial topic of disability rights in public schools, shedding light on the challenges and progress in this area.

Ashley also dissects the recent Republican Debate, breaking down the key
moments, standout performances, and policy highlights. And in the midst of it
all, the episode explores recent developments in Trump's Georgia Election Case.

Ashley's expertise and keen analysis make for an engaging episode that's both informative and thought-provoking. So, tune in to get your dose of current affairs and in-depth discussions on Unveiling Democracy.

*As always, we remind our listeners that this podcast is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require legal assistance, we encourage you to seek guidance from a local attorney who can provide professional counsel.*

*As always, we remind our listeners that this podcast is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require legal assistance, we encourage you to seek guidance from a local attorney who can provide professional counsel.*

Transcript

thanks everyone for joining us this week and unveiling democracy. Please be sure to let us know if there's a topic or a news story that you want us to cover moving forward or if there's a legal question that you want us to dive into.

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This week there are a lot of new stories to cover so I'm going to dive right in the biggest news story is of course the The Fulton County, Georgia, Trump.

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Rico case. We introduced some of the facts in this case in our last episode. But the defendants All 19 of them including former president Donald Trump.

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Were ordered to turn themselves into the Fulton County jail by Friday. Last Friday and Former President Trump turned himself in Thursday evening.

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As expected. The Georgia district attorney and the court system. Has made a big statement in wanting to process these defendants in a manner similar to that of other defendants in that county.

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So they all had their mug shots taken. President Trump's Mugshot appears to many to show him making kind of a strong scowl look on his face.

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And it's been received quite differently from those on both sides of the aisle. And understandably so, not surprising there.

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However, it is. Quite telling that this case is moving quickly. The district attorney is pushing to get it through.

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Even though it's the case that has a lot of attention. The district attorney feels prepared to move forward as soon as possible and has at this point effectively thwarted.

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The defendants attempts to delay the trial by saying we're ready to bring this case against all 19 defendants.

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Right now and there should not be. Delays because Most if not all of the defendants were aware of the allegations against them and much evidence prior to the charges even being filed.

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The defendants will be arraigned on September sixth, so we'll keep you posted on that.

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Next, I want to turn to a case that is close to home for me. I live and work in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area.

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You might know of Ann Arbor. As the place where the University of Michigan is. But there is a special education case.

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Out of Ann Arbor that has created a heated debate. And led a lot of staff. Former staff members.

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Parents and students to speak out and attempt to oust the superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools.

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So I wanted to cover it. I also think it's important that we keep discussing these issues because as we highlighted in our last episode.

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This is not something that just happens in one place. Students. Face injury, both emotional and physical and even death.

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Where schools aren't properly providing for their needs at school as well as transportation to and from school and school events.

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So this Ann Arbor case. Is out of the eastern district of Michigan. In federal court. It is Jamie Nelson Molar.

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As next friend of JW, a minor. And when you see that on court cases, next friend is typically used when they want to keep.

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The identity of a minor secret or anonymous in a sense. And usually JW. It's typically the students initials though it doesn't necessarily have to be.

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But the court system does try to respect. The confidentiality where a minor is involved in a legal case.

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So this case is Jamie Nelson Molar individually and as next friend of JW.

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Minor. Which is the plaintiff versus the Ann Arbor Public Schools and some other officials in their capacity.

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With the school system and the transportation company. That the school system uses.

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The complaint itself is Quite heartbreaking to read? And if you want to look that up, it's available online to learn more, but a brief summary here.

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The plaintiff is a 7 year old child who is identified as being autistic. And having a severe emotional impairment.

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And it is alleged that the student was physically and verbally abused by a school bus aide for several weeks.

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That there was surveillance footage of this abuse occurring. That the in our public school system and Durham transportation, which is the bus company.

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Had access to that surveillance footage. And. At this point it is unknown why despite requests to review and address the abuse.

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That's shown on the footage. The school did not review that footage for 5 weeks. And for those 5 weeks.

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JW, the student. Had to see. The alleged abuser every single day. And this was an aid or an adult that was supposed to be on the bus with a student to make sure that the student was safe, that JWs needs were met.

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And absolutely. Should have been there to protect the student. And not cause harm to the student.

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So again, and another heartbreaking example of A few things that I'm seeing as a civil rights attorney in the state of Michigan.

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Schools not properly staffing individuals in these roles. Ideally, the people who are working as AIDS should be trained and qualified to work with students with disabilities.

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Many of them are not. They are roles that typically aren't very well paid. And so in theory, it would be nice.

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To attract qualified individuals by the Department of Education and these school systems, providing more of an incentive to attract qualified professionals.

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So there are certainly wonderful AIDS out there. Who work very hard to keep their students safe. Unfortunately, right now I'm seeing a lot of incidents where AIDS formerly called paraprofessionals.

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In the education setting. Are. Getting frustrated. Ignoring students that they're there to provide services for and even worse harassing students, targeting students.

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And in this case, it's a that there was physical and emotional abuse by the aid on the student.

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P. What they believe in this complaint. Is that for 5 weeks. The aid.

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Rachanda Jefferson.

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Thought that she could discipline. Autistic behaviors. Out of the student. And despite the Harent bringing this to the school's attention.

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This continued for quite some time. And what's even more shocking about this in Arbor case?

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And something that I've seen. Not only in Ann Arbor, but throughout the state of Michigan and elsewhere.

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Is that when schools learn that something has been mishandled, either intentionally or neglectfully. Instead of stepping in, removing that individual.

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Having some form of accountability, providing some type of training. There are sometimes consistent efforts to hide what has happened to protect the school.

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May not be surprising to many of our listeners. But it's a trend that I'm seeing.

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Worsen. As time goes on. And I'm seeing a huge divide between parents. And school systems.

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Where a lot of these issues if properly addressed right away. Could save kids lives. And we're going to be interviewing.

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A family that was deeply affected by a similar type of incident. On our podcast very, very soon.

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So I'm looking forward to bringing you that interview. This is an issue that's not going to go away.

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The superintendent. Last name is Swift. She has been superintendent in Ann Arbor Public Schools for about 10 years.

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But there were hundreds of signatures from school staff, former staff. School board members. Parents, students.

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Saying she needs to go. There's still a lot of debate about how transparent the school board is being, but the board of trustees did vote in a 4 to 3 vote.

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To create a pathway to. Dismiss Superintendent Swift. So I'll keep you posted on that.

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As well as the Nelson Dashmuller. Versus in our public schools case.

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Alright.

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The next big news story in the last week. That there was a Republican debate. Former President Trump did not attend the debate.

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There was a little bit of a debate going on behind the scenes about whether or not he would attend. He did not.

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He. Decided to do a separate interview which is not all that surprising with all of the legal cases that he has going on right now.

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But the Republican to beat led to an interesting approach from many of the candidates. A lot of people feel as though this was Ron Desantis opportunity.

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To come across as a Strong leader to perhaps. Distance himself just a little bit from his typical woke baiting.

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Arguments that you see him make in the media. And in Florida all the time. But he didn't appear to be a central focus of the Republican debate, which is news in itself because after former President Trump.

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Who still has a lot of Republican support. The next candidate with a lot of support. Has been Ron Desantis.

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But he essentially faded into the background. He didn't have a lot of charisma. And at the end of the night, he didn't have any good punch lines or sticking points that seemed to resonate with viewers.

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There's a meme that's been going around about him. Trying to smile for the camera and struggling to do so.

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I won't comment on that, but I will say I do think that he really missed his opportunity to be a standout.

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In the Republican debate.

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Mike Pence tried to Speak up a bit. And Unfortunately, it it seems like for him, he fell flat a bit.

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Nikki Haley and Chris Christie. Appear to be getting the most attention online in Positive ways, I would say that they felt more comfortable.

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For Nikki Haley pointing to her experience with foreign policy. And per somewhat more lenient stance for a Republican on a on abortion.

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Saying that she thinks that it should be looked at from a more realistic lens. Chris Christie had a stand up moment of the night when he.

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Kind of poked at the back Rama Swami. Who is an entrepreneur who is also known for wrapping to M and M at one of his appearances.

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But Ramaswami

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Started to at 1 point. Quote, present former President Obama in what he said at a debate about kind of having a quote funny or odd name.

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You know, who's this skinny guy with a different name essentially and Chris Christie called him out on that.

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I do think that Ramos Swami is seeking some of the Trump attention in the media. I should say in a similar way to how Trump did it.

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Back when he was first running for president before the 2016 election. So it'll be interesting to see where this goes.

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And how the field narrows. After the Republican debate. Has settled. I do think that when it came to the standouts of the night.

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Rama Swami, Haley, and Christie appeared to get the most. Support from the media and on social media from people watching the debate.

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So we will see.

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Another big news story out of the Midwest involves the Chicago. Police Department, a Chicago officer named Jeffrey Crib, KR IV is how you spells last name.

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He is currently facing charges for perjury and forgery. After getting out of dozens of traffic violations by claiming his girlfriend.

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Stole his car. But throughout that ordeal. He, it has been discovered or alleged that. He made many false statements.

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On the record and in Chicago. Many many many cases that stem from his arrest are in jeopardy meaning that they could be Reverse, retried, thrown out.

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So prosecutors in Illinois dropped at least 15 cases where his testimony was a factor in charging those individuals. He is accused of lying under oath, 44 times to get out of speeding, parking, and red light camera tickets for his personal vehicles.

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He has been a police officer for over 25 years. The most recent do you IRS, he made involved allegations of dangerous driving.

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He was known for being one of the city's biggest . UI enforcers is how they're kind of framing it in the media.

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He was really well known for. Finding people driving under the influence. And arresting them, testifying against them, and getting them locked up.

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However, in addition to those 15 cases that are being thrown out, there are 7 other cases where he was the arresting officer.

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And the state's attorney made motions declining to prosecute those.

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So this officer is facing a huge credibility issue. And is

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Rightfully so, facing a lot of scrutiny, but I think that this case really speaks to how our system has traditionally provided A lot of credence and respect to what police say in court.

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And historically, police have been believed in the court system. Unfortunately for the public. Sometimes they may not be so credible.

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So I'll keep you posted on where that goes. Lastly, another really sad story involving a police officer.

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In Mississippi.

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There was a 10 year old child. Who was urinating in a parking lot. And a police officer arrested the child, 10 years old.

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The police chief Richard Chandler. Announced that this officer is no longer employed. By the department. But they haven't provided many, many details about if he was disciplined, if he quit, if he was fired.

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And as you may know, the Very often when officers leave certain positions. Maybe because of excessive force. Other forms of misconduct.

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They can still very often be hired by other police departments. And so I really would. Hope that there's more follow-up on this case out of Mississippi because it's 10 years old.

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Being arrested at 10 years old is a Huge deal. It's incredibly traumatic for a child to go through our court system.

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It's even more traumatic for a child to go through our courts system. And to be arrested and put in a police car.

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For having a human. Bodily function. And so. I would say pay attention to this case because it's also bringing to light.

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That more and more young shelter and are being arrested for things that could be properly addressed outside of the court system or by the parents.

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And it's not necessarily the police officer's job. Okay, to enforce or have. The the gall I should say to arrest a young child for something like this.

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I have heard an experienced children between the ages of 10 and 13 that are being arrested for things like domestic violence, assault and battery.

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Even. Rising cases of. Social media bullying. Yeah.

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And Yes, even though they're young, things like sharing nude photos. And so the laws.

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Have some protections. In that if you're very young. You may be able to argue that you're not competent to go through the juvenile court system because you can't assist your attorney.

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In your case where you're unable to understand. The gravity of the charge, the legal process itself and I don't know that that legal protection for children is necessarily being translated or described to the police officers that seem to to keep arresting them.

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So that's our current event roundup for this week. Let us know if there is a case or a law that you would like for us to cover moving forward.

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We've got some wonderful interviews. Coming up. So. Subscribe, like our posts, follow us on social media, and if you have a moment, Please feel free to review our podcast.

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It really does help and we enjoy seeing the reviews. Thanks, everyone.