(Jena6) National Lawyers Guild Calls For Release Of Mychal Bell

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.

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“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.”

"The double standard of justice in Jena, one for black students and another for whites, is emblematic of the racism that still permeates many towns throughout the South and the country as a whole. There must be an immediate and full investigation of judicial and prosecutorial malfeasance in Jena, Louisiana," said Marjorie Cohn, President of the NLG.
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Authorities have increased patrols in and around Jena amid concerns over the safety of the families involved in the case of six black teenagers accused of beating a white student, a sheriff said Monday.

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Extra patrols began several days ago, LaSalle Parish Sheriff Carl Smith said.

The Louisiana State Police has sent three investigators to help local law enforcement look into any possible threats, agency spokesman Lt. Lawrence McLeary said. So far, the calls reported have been of a more ``derogatory nature,'' he said.

The U.S. Dept. of Justice and the FBI are aware of the threat allegations, said Brian Roehrkasse, a justice department spokesman.

Smith and other local officials, including the Jena police chief and mayor and the county district attorney, issued a statement saying threats had also been made against the student who was beaten. In the statement, they denounced all of the threats.

``Such vile and cowardly acts will not be tolerated in Jena or LaSalle Parish,'' the statement read.