to the editor: This recent article states that the Racial Justice Act “has barely been used” (“18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act,” November 20). This characterization surprised me given the thousands of Racial Justice Act claims that have been filed in superior and appellate courts across California. In fact, my office has filed and argued several cases with Racial Justice Act claims in the California Supreme Court during this term alone.
Across the state, incarcerated people and hundreds of public defenders have made Herculean efforts to make the promise of the Racial Justice Act a reality. Every day, in prisons, jails, and courtrooms, Racial Justice Act motions are drafted, records are compiled, and arguments are presented. Few of these cases have the resources of an institution like Stanford Law School, but they are no less valuable, and the people who bring them are no less deserving of recognition.
Addressing decades of racial disparities will take a broad coalition. But as with many reforms, California public defenders have led this work (quietly, with limited resources) to serve their clients and strengthen our justice system for all.
Galit Lipa, Culver City
The author is the state public defender of the State Public Defender's Office.
