'Judge Brinkley Must Go': We Demand Justice in the First Judicial District
In late December the supervising judges of the First Judicial District in Philadelphia made a highly unusual move and stripped sitting Judge Genece Brinkley of all of her criminal cases and assigned her to civil court. Reviews by judges and lawyers have revealed that Judge Brinkley imposed illegal sentences and failed to scheduled hearings when ordered by higher courts.
Judge Brinkley is no stranger to controversy. Most famously she was the judge who threw the book at Meek Mill and jailed him for probation violations in a case that was later overturned. She is also the judge who jailed the father of two special needs children for failure to pay court costs who was later freed by the PA Supreme Court, citing ‘egregious error’ on the part of Judge Brinkley.
She represents a criminal justice system that is punitive and has led to the mass incarceration of Black, Brown and poor white communities. She has torn families apart, cost people their jobs, and ruined lives by jailing Philly residents excessively and unconstitutionally. Our communities deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We deserve a justice system that foregrounds transformation and devotes resources to help people turn around their lives. We say no more. Judge Brinkley Must Go.
For the month of January, Amistad Movement Power, Straight Ahead and Free The Ballot will be mobilizing concerned citizens from across Philadelphia to call on Judge Genece Brinkley to resign. We need your voice! Please sign the petition here calling on Judge Brinkley to resign, because together we can be powerful.
Also join us as we take a stand! Amistad Movement Power and our movement partners will also be holding pickets outside the Criminal Justice Center at 13th and Filbert to demand accountability. Rally with us and call on Judge Brinkley to step down. Pickets will take place at the following times at 13th and Filbert:
Wednesday, January 11 at 11 AM - 1 PM
Wednesday, January 18 at 11 AM - 1 PM
Wednesday, January 25 at 11 AM - 1 PM
Wednesday, February 1 at 11 AM - 1 PM
