Genesis E. Draper

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

People charged with crimes should have their day in court without delay.  It is unacceptable to allow theft, driving while intoxicated, family assault and other misdemeanor cases to take upwards of a year or more to go to trial.  Clogged trial dockets not only violate the rights of the accused, but it makes it less likely that victims of crime will receive justice once a case has become stale. Learn more

People who come before the court should be treated with dignity and respect.  As a practicing attorney, Judge Draper watched defendants, attorneys, court staff, and even victims be disrespected and at the mercy of judges whose moods could change with the wind.  The tone of the court is set by the judge, and professionalism starts there. Learn more

People should not be held in jail with oppressive bail amounts that force them to plead guilty just to reunite with their families.  Detention should be reserved for the most dangerous and the least likely to appear in court, not simply the poorest in our community.  We must reject the false choice between public safety and the equal protection rights of those accused.  Additionally, all county court agencies should work together to make sure to effectively communicate court dates, times and locations. Learn more

Appointed attorneys should be well trained, have adequate support and resources, and be independent of the judiciary.  Who gets court appointments should not be based on who gives campaign contributions or who the judge likes.  Judges have the ability to create a system that ensures appointed attorneys have training, resources and independence equal to that of hired attorneys. Learn more