Jessica Levin

Director, Civil Rights Clinic @seattleulaw | civil rights attorney | she/her

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Pleased to join new center @SeattleULaw in amicus filing yesterday.

Pleased that directors of the new center represented the Korematsu Center @UCILaw.

Despite unresolved issues, we continue to work together.

At the end of the day, it is the work that matters.

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[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

So proud of the work by Jessica Levin & Melissa Lee and students in the Civil Rights Clinic @SeattleULaw.

"After reforms, racial inequity in WA 3-strikes law remains, report finds" https://t.co/LlAFCWDSYF via @seattletimes

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Important new report by Melissa Lee and Jessica Levin, currently visiting clinical professors and longtime co-assistant directors of the Korematsu Center @SeattleULaw.

This documents WA. What's happening in your state?

https://t.co/uax6q5ontt

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

The Korematsu Center, leading a group of race centers in amicus filings in the 9th Cir. and WA Supreme Court, have been making this redressability point, drawing from school deseg. cases.

Great to see Judge Aiken take this view on redressability.

https://t.co/Th0UpZhD8j

[Harvard Law School @Harvard_Law]

Teaching the Roberts Court: Challenges & Opportunities. A talk with @JeannieSGersen @RandyEBarnett @KorematsuCtr Maggie Lemos @michelebgoodwin @OlatiJ https://t.co/Lj52J3xTk2

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Just filed - WA has one of most severe 3 strikes laws in nation. "Strike" committed as a child is treated same as "strike" committed by adult.

A person should not die in prison because of a childhood offense.

+ SEVERE race disproportionality.

Brief:
https://t.co/7Jakj8Q1xa

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Folks should understand that decisions like this don't occur in a vacuum.

This court had to address its own racism when in 2010 it was reported that a justice said that Black people were in prison more because they commit more crimes.

This led to a racial self-reckoning.

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[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Oops. We did it again.

Civil Rights Clinic @SeattleULaw filed amicus brief on Monday.

"Black children, as well as other children of color, are punished more harshly than their white counterparts....
Blackness can operate as a silent aggravator."

What will courts do about this?

[Twyla Carter @twylajcarter]

Let's. Do. This.

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Important opinion from unanimous court: "A person's race and ethnicity are relevant to the question of whether they have been seized by law enforcement."

Also-recognition that "Asian" can obscure disproportionality that Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders experience in WA.

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

But my hating it is not what I hope to draw attention to. Instead, think about those serving these death in prison sentences.

We just told our client that procedural barriers are preventing court from reaching merits of what may very well be an unconstitutional sentence.

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[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Next session, I implore WA legislature to take this up.

cc: @RepDrewHansen, @TarraSimmons5, Rep. Goodman @WAHouseDems.

By the way - we haven't given up, pursuing legal pathways for client.

But we are heartbroken, for our client, that one door has been deemed closed.

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[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

If anyone was wondering, I hate Washington's 3 strikes law that results in mandatory death in prison sentences. I especially hate that a "strike" committed by a child counts the same as a "strike" committed by an adult. Hate it.

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[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Life without parole is a euphemism for a death in prison sentence.

The Korematsu Center has stopped using the euphemism in our advocacy.

Let's all stop using this euphemism.

[Seattle U Law School @SeattleULaw]

Congratulations to Prof Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr, today named the 2022-23 McGoldrick Fellow. This is the most prestigious honor @seattleu bestows on faculty.

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

We are happy to share our briefing on this issue for anyone working on this.

May be first instance of a court in a published opinion recognizing adultification bias as affecting sentencing of children of color, including especially Black girls.

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

BREAKING: Washington appellate court finds that adultification bias can lead to children of color being punished more harshly.

Slip op: https://t.co/Md8vXwnSil

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

Happy Fred Korematsu Day!
(to those who observe)

Op-ed wasn't accepted, so here it is, edited for twitter:

January 30 is date that several states commemorate Fred Korematsu Day. In CA, this date is known as the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution.

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[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

It’s tomorrow.

Here it is: https://t.co/Tam3F3fYWr

Report and Recommendations to Address Race in Washington’s Juvenile Legal System: 2021 Report to the Washington Supreme Court.

[Robert Chang @KorematsuCtr]

10 days after George Floyd was murdered, @wacourts issued call for judiciary and legal profession to recognize that "injustices faced by black Americans are not a relic of the past" and called on us to act.

Task Force 2.0 came together, called by deans of WA's 3 law schools. 1/3