We talk about gun violence a lot
because it is a big issue and it
touches everyone of us. Yeah.
Police and community leaders say
they're working to stop the violence.
And they point out the court system,
which could keep criminals off the streets,
is stretched too thin.
The DC Council plans on changing that.
Yeah, Daniel, look at Delia
Gonzales is live outside of DC
Superior Court, where the chief judge
is weighing in on the Council's plan.
So what are you hearing, Dee?
Well, you know, it is very
rare that the chief judge
makes a statement like she did,
saying that the Council's initiative
to change part of the Criminal
Code could overburden the already
stretched thin court system. Get this.
She says that they are down 14 judges
here at Superior Court next year.
It only gets worse.
They're anticipating 20 vacancies.
So while city leaders are
looking to rewrite the code,
the courts and the mayor.
They want them to revisit a portion
of the code that could really
make the system work overtime.
While DC police say gun crimes are down,
it doesn't feel like it to neighbors,
business owners and parents
who are dodging bullets and
rushing children to the hospital.
A four year old and 13 year
old shot just last night.
We're talking about updating DC's Criminal
Code for the first time in 120 years.
Councilmember Charles Allen chaired
the council's Public Safety Committee,
says the Council is poised
to update the Criminal Code.
We're moving towards a mark up tomorrow, but
at a breakfast meeting between the
Council and members of Mayor Bowsers.
Administration some opposition to the plan.
This is how policy is made.
This is part of the process,
and we fundamentally disagree
with some of the approaches here.
And it's our job to let the community
know what tools we need to keep DC safe.
The provisions the mayor and police
chief oppose calling for jury trials
for misdemeanor offenses by 2030.
We are opposed to placing that
burden on our courts, which are
experiencing. Vacancy crisis.
It's also important that people
have a right to their jury.
DC is an extreme outlier in this
we're it's us and only nine
other states where people don't
even have a right to a jury.
That was something got taken
away in the 1990s.
We've got to make sure we return
the right to a jury trial,
but also work with the courts.
Also at issue a provision that would
decriminalize public nuisances
like noise at night drinking or
urinating in public, and removing
most mandatory minimum sentences,
giving more people serving long sentences.
An opportunity to petition for release.
I don't think that public
safety about how people feel.
I don't think that that was part
of the assessment in the rewrite.
And I just think as a
District of Columbia resident,
a kid born and raised in this city,
my parents are still here and
a lot of other loved ones here.
I want to make sure that it's reviewed
through that lens by everybody.
Now the bill rewriting this code,
get this, it is 450 pages long.
That's why the mayor and the chief
are saying, listen, let's slow down,
pump the brakes on all of this.
There's no need to rush through this.
We want to get this right.
The public should have an opportunity
to really read all 450 pages of
this code and really understand
what we are potentially changing,
the Council member says. Well,
this has been in the works for two years.
We've had public hearings.
They are moving forward with
a committee motion tomorrow,
and then it goes to the full
Council for a vote.
Less so.
Indeed. I know we try to keep
folks from getting bogged down
in the weeds on these things,
but we can't help hearing you talk about
that vacancy crisis within the court.
Why are there so many vacancies?
How do we get here?
It is startling 14 with 20 next year.
Besides the natural kind of movement
of things, as folks just kind
of retiring out of the system,
this is a nationwide shortage.
It is doubly affected here
in DC because, as you know,
we would have to appeal to the White
House for nominations for our judges,
and then the Senate must approve those.
So the Council members,
the mayor says they continue to lobby.
The White House and Senate leaders
to make that happen.
But right now,
they don't see a solution
until 3-4 years down the road.
Three to four years.
And we don't have that much time.
We we are in the midst of a crisis right now.
All right, Dee, thanks for
breaking that down for us.
Something people should know about, right?
Maybe wondering why did we get
here and how did we get here?
Well, that's how we got here.
And when you're an informed electorate,
you can push For more information,
but you also know more so that you can.
We can push for it, right?
Yeah. Julia, thank you.