Just City Court Watch JUDICIAL

REPORT

Since our last published report, Just City Court Watch has been working behind the scenes making
changes that reflect our goals of bringing transparency and accountability to the Shelby County
criminal legal system. We have still been inside courtrooms almost daily. We've received messages
from people who want someone at their hearing because they feel like they are treated with
respect if someone's watching. It shouldn't be this way. While we aim to be a program that
encourages those in power to be respectful and fair, our goal is for that to be the standard.

We also want to be a program that is accessible to anyone who wants to volunteer. One way we've
done that is by re-establishing the judicial tract that allows volunteers from any background to
watch and evaluate the judges in the criminal courtrooms. In the judicial tract, the judges in
Criminal and General Sessions Court are divided into four groups in an effort to focus our watching.
Participants go to a predetermined courtroom and complete a rubric that evaluates the judges on a
scale from 1-4 (with 1 being the worst and 4 being the best score they can receive.)

The questions in the rubric are as follows: Did the judge give the

appearance of neutrality? Did the judge appoint a public defender?

Did the judge treat both the accused and the victim with dignity? Did

the judge handle each case with the sensitivity warranted? Were you

able to hear? Did you have any issues getting in? If you would like to

view the complete rubric click here.

Once we receive ten rubrics for every judge in the group we're highlighting, we compile them and
report what we've observed. Each report will focus on one group of judges and will contain most of
what we observed as well as viewpoints from former Bail Fund and Clean Slate clients, who have
chosen to share their courtroom experiences. In an effort to maintain the integrity of what our
volunteers and former clients have shared, all responses have been copied directly and edited only
for grammar purposes.

Guide to Understanding the Report

"Volunteers Observed" - Shows the number of volunteers who contributed to that judge's rubric total
Graph - Each bar represents the average score on each question from the rubric. Ten rubrics were
used for each judge
"Quote" - This is the most notable remark the judge made during our observations. (Not all judges will
have a quote.)
What This Judge Did Well - Participants gave their opinion on where the judge excelled
How They Can Improve - Participants gave their opinion on the improvements the judge should make
Lasting Impressions - Participants shared what stuck with them after they were no longer in the
courtroom *Indicates response from former clients
8 VOLUNTEERS OBSERVED:

Judge Coffee
Criminal Court Division VII | First elected in 2006

0
Timeliness Neutrality Public Defender Dignity Sensitivity Ability to Hear Access

WHAT THIS JUDGE DID WELL? HOW CAN THIS JUDGE IMPROVE? LASTING IMPRESSION

"He takes the time to "Give people more *“Judge Coffee took the

explain things" chances" time to outline

guidelines/ rules relating

*"He is thorough and can Have more interaction to the bonding company

admit when court made with people collection process."

a mistake"
*“Coffee encourages

*"Don't be so
people to “ stay in touch”,

He has a great handling condescending"

Which I think is really

of the courtroom
important”
Don't reset so much
*Takes time to make sure
"I’m hoping this wasn't just

people understand what a great day, and that

is happening Judge Coffee operates

his courtroom this way

everyday. He spoke to

everyone the exact same

way, like human beings. "

*Indicates response from former client

 9 VOLUNTEERS OBSERVED:

Judge Craft
Criminal Court Division VIII | First elected in 1994

0
Timeliness Neutrality Public Defender Dignity Sensitivity Ability to Hear Access

"If you're not here Monday, you'll be arrested.

You'll be in jail until next July."

WHAT THIS JUDGE DID WELL? HOW CAN THIS JUDGE IMPROVE? LASTING IMPRESSION

He was friendly "Change his attitude" “He was blatantly

disrespectful and
He explained some
*He was repeatedly all belittled defendants"
things well over the place and
disorganized, he needs "Performs his job like
He was efficient to be more organized he's running a circus. Or
a slaughterhouse"
"Make sure people
understand what "Heavily factors race
conditions of their bond into his decisions and
is" uses racially charged
language"

*Indicates response from former client

 8 VOLUNTEERS OBSERVED:

Judge Massey
Criminal Court Division 11 | First elected in 2006

0
Timeliness Neutrality Public Defender Dignity Sensitivity Ability to Hear Access

When a young man's mother hired an attorney for him:

"You're a grown man, hire one yourself"

WHAT THIS JUDGE DID WELL? HOW CAN THIS JUDGE IMPROVE? LASTING IMPRESSION

She's a good listener Show a little more care *“50/50 this courtroom
sometimes can be
"Talks to you and not "at"
*She can work on her disrespectful to its
you" professionalism people”

*Efficient in time spent

*"She can work on "She has a very abrasive
on cases being on time, I never tone towards
knew when I'd get out" defendants"
*She's funny and had a

positive attitude Don't yell so much "She's inconsistent in the

way that she deals and
judges individuals"

*"Very impatient"

*Indicates response from former client

 7 VOLUNTEERS OBSERVED:

Judge Lucchesi
Criminal Court Division 12 | First elected in 2014

0
Timeliness Neutrality Public Defender Dignity Sensitivity Ability to Hear Access

"If you want a public defender, I can throw you in

jail for a few days so you can qualify in this court"

WHAT THIS JUDGE DID WELL? HOW CAN THIS JUDGE IMPROVE? LASTING IMPRESSION

Provides extra time when

*Needs to be more
"He has a very relaxed

needed professional and calm courtroom"

*He's fair Have more time efficient

“In some instances, he

court proceedings can be inflexible"

*He is pretty honest
Expand Public Defender
"He's either really kind,

Took the time to explain

appointments or really harsh"
a warrant to father

whose child had an

Be more consistent
active warrant

*Indicates response from former client

 HOW THE JUDGES IN THIS REPORT COMPARE TO EACH OTHER
Coffee Craft Massey Lucchesi
4

0
Timeliness Neutrality Public Defender Dignity Sensitivity Ability to Hear Access

Thank you for reading! I am so proud of the work we have

done and will continue to do. Court Watch is such an
important program and I am honored to lead it as we push
for visibility and accountability at 201 Poplar.
We have started watching the next group of judges and will
continue to make reports as we receive all the necessary
rubrics. We will also maintain a presence in the courtrooms
presented here.

None of this would be possible without the work of our

volunteers and the clients who shared their stories. If you
have a story to share or you would like to join our program, Yonée Gibson
please contact me anytime. Court Watch Coordinator

Follow Us: Contact Me:

yonee@justcity.org
@justcitycw
justcity.org/courtwatch