National Lawyers Guild Calls For Release Of Mychal Bell, For All Charges Against The Jena 6 To Be Dropped, And For
Federal Investigation Into Jena 6 Arrests And Prosecutions
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) calls for the immediate release of Mychal Bell, one of the six high school students who
have come to be known as the "Jena 6." The Guild also calls for all charges against the Jena 6 to be dropped, and for
the investigation and disbarment of Judge J.P. Mauffray and District Attorney Reed Walters.
Judge J.P. Mauffray and DA Reed Walters have engaged in a string of egregious actions, the most recent of which was the
denial of bail for Bell on Friday. The NLG urges that: 1) The United States Department of Justice convene an immediate
inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena 6; 2) Judge Mauffray be recused from
presiding over Bell's juvenile court hearings or other proceedings; 3) The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel
investigate Reed Walters for unethical and possibly illegal conduct; 4) The Louisiana Judiciary Commission investigate
Judge Mauffray for unethical conduct; and 5) The Jena school district superintendent be removed from office.
"Contrary to what Reed Walters and J.P. Mauffray may think, Jena is subject to the same Constitution that the rest of
the United States is," remarked Kerry McLean, member of the executive board of the NLG. "There have been numerous,
brazen violations of the constitutional rights of the Jena 6." McLean continued, "In addition to the constitutional
violations, Walters and Mauffray have breached the ethical requirements of their offices. They should be made to answer
for all of this."
There is an unequal justice system in Jena, where blacks are routinely the victims of discriminatory and oppressive
treatment by officials.
See full NLG statement at http://nlg.org/news/index.php?entry=entry070924-114458
Founded in 1937 as an alternative to the American Bar Association which did not admit people of color, the National
Lawyers Guild is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its
headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.
ENDS