The following is a statement by Tarsha Jackson, Right2Justice director of the Texas Organizing Project, on the newly elected Harris County misdemeanor judges’ decision to drop the appeal of the bail lawsuit and fire the DC law firm that had represented the county:
“We thank the misdemeanor judges for making good on their campaign promise to end the bail lawsuit, and bring justice to a system that for too long has punished people for not being able to afford to buy their conditional freedom.
“This is exactly what TOP expected when we knocked on thousands of doors and called thousands more to get them to vote for these judges. Now, we can go back to these voters and let them know that their votes mattered, that their votes set Harris County on course to end mass incarceration.
“We look forward to the settlement, and have full confidence that it will end the jailing of people accused of minor charges on bonds they can’t afford, and will greatly increase the number of people released without cash bond.
“And we look forward to continue working with the judges and other county officials on reforming the bail system for felony charges. People shouldn’t languish in jail simply because they can’t afford bond. We can’t continue to have separate systems of justice for people who have money and those who do not.
“Elections indeed have consequences, and these consequences will deliver justice and fairness for the people of Harris County.”
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Texas Organizing Project organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris and Bexar counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.