Michal Gross

Public Defender, fighting for youth in Harlem and beyond. Happy to have real bagels after 9 years in DC. Sporadic Twitter user.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

I'm a public defender because justice doesn't come unless you fight for it. I'm a union member because I can only fight for justice while standing in solidarity with the rest of my colleagues at the Office of the Public Defender. #MarylandDefendersUnion

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

@WashSpirit Wouldn’t it be nice if fans were allowed to use reusable water bottles at this Earth Day celebration at @AudiField? ♻️ 🌎 🌲

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

This whole 🧵 and all the reasons Maryland legislators need to pause before celebrating the 2023 legislative session. There is so much that was left on the table this year. Every day of waiting until next year’s legislative session leads to real harm to real people.

[Heather Warnken @HeatherWarnken]

Much to celebrate and be proud of, but many of us are still reeling from numerous losses and inaction on urgently needed CJ reform in MD, essential to public safety, govt legitimacy and human dignity. Maryland has some of the worst rankings on these issues in the nation. Thread:

[Heather Warnken @HeatherWarnken]

MD sends more kids to adult court based on offense type per capita than any other state except Alabama. 81% of youth charged in adult court in MD are Black. Yet for the 13th yr in a row, w/ a Dem supermajority & AG support, the YES Act did not get a vote.
https://t.co/AO7pa2O8HJ

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Maryland could have fixed this with the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act SB550/HB453 from @jillpcarter and @LesleyJLopez, which would have allowed housing based on the incarcerated transgender, non-binary, or intersex person's preference. Both bills died in committee.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

“These are the same children the law says are too young to vote, participate in jury duty, or purchase alcohol, but are forced to make adult-like decisions. When will this become a priority? I guess when it hits closer to their homes?"

[Amanda Chaya Engel ✡️ @acdrazen]

For the 13th year, the bill to end auto-charging kids as adults has died in Annapolis: @WMAR2News #mdga23 #mdpolitics https://t.co/kTv3BtJFwl

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

The inability of legislators to take more than one step at a time is infuriating.
Legislating isn’t an easy job. But it’s what they all signed up for.
There are people who are suffering while they figure this all out at a snails pace.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

😡 🤯 😤

[Heather Warnken @HeatherWarnken]

I heard in Annapolis that this critical bill couldnt get traction in part bc they “can only move 1 trans bill at a time.” That made me ill. It’s not politics, it’s human dignity. It’s our children & loved ones. TYSM to all who’ve pushed & shared your stories. You are heroes to me

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

@shaynamalka This video feels like a tease. Who IS Libi's mother? And what were they doing in Antwerp? And how is it exactly like Meah She'arim but also entirely different?
I expect full answers.

[Jews United for Justice @jufj]

In MD police are 4x more likely to search Black drivers during traffic stops than white drivers.

Black and white people use cannabis the same — yet 75% of those arrested for possession in MD from 2018-19 were Black. 4/

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Trying to communicate with a client through the @OfficialFBOP messaging system and its like they're TRYING to be offensive. Couldn't this have just said "manage my contacts" like any other messaging system?

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Everything @jennylynegan said - its infuriating that kids were left behind by those in charge in MD. There were individuals who stood up - @jillpcarter @CharCrutchfield @rachelpmunoz - but Senate and House leadership failed these kids, leaving this inhumane practice in place.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Listen to @jillpcarter: "We take one category of traumatized children and ignore and demonize all of the others."
#KidsareKids even when they act on their trauma. This is why we need the #YESAct to stop the inhumane practice of charging kids as if they were adults.

[LBS Baltimore @LBSBaltimore]

MD State Senator Jill P. Carter (@jillpcarter) remarks on the lack of empathy for Black children in the criminal justice system on a bill regarding child sex trafficking.

Bottom Line: The Maryland General Assembly is complicit in the dehumanization of Black children.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

There are children "locked up for 23 hours a day in flood-prone, rodent-infested cells" and the excuse for inaction from legislators is "there were a lot of bills" and "we ran out of time"?!?! https://t.co/YeJxTo40E0
Demand more from the people sent to represent you in Annapolis.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Happy *almost* Gideon's Day.
To keep the promise of Gideon v. Wainright alive, public defenders need resources to do our constitutionally-mandated jobs.

[Brendon Woods @BrendonWoodsPD]

The message is simple. If you want to really end mass incarceration, fight systemic racism in the courts and make our communities safer then #FundPublicDefense

[Amanda Chaya Engel ✡️ @acdrazen]

Good morning. We're rounding the corner on crossover day in the #mdga23. One bill I have yet to see on a voting list is Sen. @jillpcarter's SB93 - The YES Act that would end auto charging of kids as adults.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Should correct what I said: there was one voice from Annapolis who spoke up. Thank you @rachelpmunoz
https://t.co/LLbFjhEHGU

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Local officials are finally responding to reports of inhumane conditions at the Baltimore County jail. Hopefully corrective action follows.
But where is the response from Annapolis? As the article notes, this could be fixed by passing the #YESAct @LukeClippinger @Willcsmithjr

[The Baltimore Sun @baltimoresun]

Baltimore County Council investigates conditions for youths housed at adult jail https://t.co/BvrHI1HBeX

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Walking into a courthouse is an unavoidable traumatic event for many. As a youth defender, I chose to walk into courthouses and expose myself to trauma. Yesterday was one of those traumatic days.
I'm still learning to be ok with admitting when I'm not ok.

[Michal Gross @MichalGross]

Waiting on action (or even a response!) from the people responsible for youth being held in solitary confinement/rat-infested, sewage-contaminated cells.
There are many ways to fix this but a real simple one: the #YESAct would stop the automatic charging of youth in adult court.

[Maryland Youth Justice Coalition @mdyouthjustice]

We're still waiting for county officials and state legislators to take action in response to this appalling report of conditions at BCDC.

Tell @Willcsmithjr @LukeClippinger to pass the #YESAct – 13 years is long enough #KidsCantWait

READ: https://t.co/oeMG9YfOIj

[Allison Widder (she/her) @elhijodealli7]

The government doesn’t expect prosecutors to build their cases alone, why should you have only an overworked attorney by your side when you’re fighting the government? Our clients deserve better than what they’re getting