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"Ms. Stokes wasn't elected." "She was nominated by the clerk." "In Mecklenburg County, the sitting clerk is Alyssa Chin Gary." "On her LinkedIn page, she calls herself a clerk, a DEI consultant, and a racial equity organizer." "And her life mission? Reparations." "Ms. Stokes was nominated by Judge Carla Archie." "Judge Archie is friends with Eric Holder, Obama's wingman." "And Judge Archie isn't just any judge." "In 2019, she was the DEI Champion of the Year." "Did a woman die because of DEI?" "Just a couple months ago, a guy shot five people on New Year's, and Judge Archie sentenced him to a year and a half for shooting five people." "This is a DEI court, and they have blood on their hands." "These courts need to be systematically dismantled, and that needs to happen immediately."

It's crucial to address racial diversity. The Rhode Island federal court, with its all-white judicial officers and mostly white staff, exemplifies a lack of diversity. This is partly due to low turnover, making change difficult. However, our probation department, previously all-white, has transformed. We intentionally hired people of color to better reflect the community it serves. Imagine being a young African American defendant, entering a majestic courtroom, led by a white U.S. Marshal, surrounded by white faces. You might wonder, "Do they understand me? Can they relate to my life?" When your life is in their hands, representation matters.

It is essential for a prosecutor to begin with a crime rather than targeting an individual. The issue over the past four years has been the perceived targeting of Donald Trump, which began in 2016 with multiple investigations. If appointed attorney general, I will ensure the office remains non-political and will not pursue individuals based on their political affiliations. Justice will be administered fairly across the country. We need to unite and move forward to preserve our nation. Concerns about the potential politicization of the justice department during my tenure are valid, and I assure you that I will maintain independence and uphold the Constitution, even if it means disagreeing with the president.

This is a disgraceful situation in a courtroom, with biased prosecutors and a judge with conflicts of interest. Every American must reject the politicization of justice and demand a fair legal system. We must unite against injustice, regardless of political beliefs, and ensure that everyone, including the President, receives equal treatment under the law. The American people hold the power to make a difference in November by standing up against this corruption.

The speakers aim to provide tools to understand complex legal matters, drawing on their experience as prosecutors. They intend to guide people through judgment and strategy calls. A key takeaway from the Trump administration is the realization that constitutional rights and Department of Justice norms are not guaranteed. Fundamental aspects of America are not immutable. The speakers believe that every generation must fight for these values. Regardless of what happens with Donald Trump, the struggle to ensure that the values we care about remain core American values will persist.

No person is above the law, regardless of their position or title. This principle is fundamental to American justice. Everyone, including former presidents, must be held accountable under the same laws. There cannot be two justice systems; we must ensure that the law applies equally to all. The rule of law means that no one is exempt, and it is essential for maintaining a fair society. The idea that anyone could be above the law undermines the very foundation of our legal system. We must uphold this principle to ensure justice for everyone.

Over the past four years, our country's constitutional values and institutions have been tested, reminiscent of challenges faced during the Civil War era. It felt like we were inflating a balloon, pushing it to its limits. The challenges to the rule of law brought us dangerously close to that breaking point. Courts play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law, preventing arbitrary actions, and safeguarding our values as enshrined in the Constitution. When sentencing, it's imperative to recognize that the individuals appearing before the court, regardless of their background, are entitled to have the law applied to their unique circumstances. We must consider their experiences and perspectives to ensure fair and just application of the law.

I believe in the right to hire a lawyer who speaks up against injustice. However, today I was told to be silent, yelled at, and faced an unhinged judge slamming a table. I want to make it clear that I won't tolerate such behavior in my life, and neither should you.

Every case should prioritize racial justice, regardless of the demographics of the courtroom. It is important for everyone, including older white individuals like myself, to treat every person equally, regardless of their age or ethnicity. One way to do this is by checking our biases. I encourage everyone to undergo implicit bias training to become more aware of their biases.

I believe in the right to hire a lawyer who can speak up against injustice. However, today I was told to be silent, yelled at, and faced an unhinged judge slamming a table. I want to make it clear that I won't tolerate such behavior in my life, and neither should you.

I've never personally experienced racism, but it significantly impacts the criminal justice system, influencing stops, arrests, prosecutions, and sentencing. This makes it easy to ignore, especially without diversity among colleagues. Race is a daily presence in courtrooms, notably in criminal cases but also in civil cases. Diversity is crucial everywhere, but it's especially vital in the judiciary. President Obama prioritized racial diversity on the bench, unlike President Trump. I hope President Biden will prioritize racial diversity as well. Without diversity of thought, the courts can't function correctly. Our role is to protect the minority while upholding the Constitution, and without diversity we risk perpetuating the rule of middle-class white men.

I know that many people feel detached, hopeless, and unheard, and that our institutions are partisan and dysfunctional. It may seem like our democracy is dying, but each of you chose to become a lawyer because you believed you could make a difference. Hold onto that belief. If you ever doubt our democracy, visit a naturalization ceremony and witness new citizens, who have overcome so much, proudly becoming Americans and believing in our country. You can defend democracy by offering your legal knowledge to those in need, volunteering at clinics, representing pro se plaintiffs, or mentoring students. By sharing yourself, you restore faith in democracy and can alter someone's life, maybe even your own. So march forward, believe in yourselves and in America, and defend our democracy.

The Justice Department is vital to democracy, ensuring investigations are fair and free from political influence. Protecting sensitive investigations is crucial. Despite attacks, we remain committed to following the law. The pace of justice system trials is out of our control. Thank you, everyone.

We often rely on stereotypes, like judges should have no opinions. That's false. If it were true, computers could run our justice system. Input the facts, spin the wheel, and get the correct decision. But that's not how justice works, nor should it. People who know me know I have opinions about many things.

The speaker asserts that American constitutional values have been tested in recent years, reminiscent of challenges during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow era. They liken this testing to inflating a balloon, suggesting the rule of law was stretched to its limit, nearly bursting. The speaker emphasizes the importance of courts in upholding the rule of law against arbitrary actions, referencing recent examples. They stress that the Constitution embodies American values in a legal sense. When sentencing, one must consider the defendant's background, acknowledging their unique experiences as a woman, Black individual, transgender person, or someone from a different socioeconomic background. The law must be applied with this understanding.

It's important to treat people with dignity. I faced criticism for appointing a black man as the secretary of defense and nominating Ketanji Brown.

"No matter the threats, I'm not backing down." "It is sad, telling, and downright dangerous that simply stating a bedrock principle of American law caused the president, our commander in chief, to threaten violence against me and to weaponize the Department of Justice against me." "I served at the Department of Justice." "I know that federal prosecutors have more control over the life and liberty of the American people than any other peacetime force." "I know that when these powers are used for good, they make us the more perfect union." "And I know that when these awesome powers are abused, when they are used to punish political opponents, to seek retribution, to do a president's personal bidding, there's nothing more dangerous in this country." "My message is clear. I took an oath to this constitution, and I intend to keep it." "I will never give up the ship."

Courts uphold the rule of law, protecting us from arbitrary actions, even those resembling tyranny, as we've recently witnessed. They reinforce our values, specifically those enshrined in the Constitution, in a legal context. History provides numerous instances of this, and we've observed many examples in recent years as well.

When we sentence someone, we must recognize the person before us. They might be a woman, Black, transgender, poor, rich, or have experiences different from our own. We must walk in their shoes and understand that the law applies to them in their specific circumstances. Then, we need to apply the law accordingly, with this understanding in mind. It's about recognizing the human being and their unique situation when applying justice.

Treating people with dignity is crucial. I faced criticism for appointing a black man as Secretary of Defense and nominating Ketanji Brown.

I believe the United States is in a type of civil war. By that, I mean we have irreconcilable differences. Each side is willing to fight for the outcomes that they want. In that kind of environment, the question becomes, how will the legal system function? Will it stand in the way of the fight, or will the fight itself become more important than anything else? That's the type of situation we're currently facing.

I was denied the right to speak up when I saw something wrong. The judge was unhinged and slammed a table, which I cannot tolerate. We all have the right to hire a lawyer who will stand up for us. It's important that we don't tolerate such behavior.

A prosecutor should begin with a crime and then seek a name, not the other way around. The issue over the past four years has been the targeting of Donald Trump, starting from his 2016 campaign, leading to numerous investigations against him. As attorney general, I will not politicize the office or target individuals based on political affiliation. Justice will be applied fairly across the country. We need to unite and move forward; otherwise, we risk losing our country.

The entire justice enterprise in The United States depends upon an honor system. It depends upon them telling the truth. It depends upon them abiding a promise they made to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. And we are long past the days when that oath was backed in most people by a fear of going to hell. And so it turns out it's an honor system. To get information, to be able to find the truth, and the truth is a real thing. There are facts. That honor system has to be enforced with an iron fist so the system will work, so the truth can be found in a reliable way.

Over the past four years, and at other times in our history, the values and constitutional principles that form the foundation of our country have been tested. Our institutions have been challenged in ways many thought impossible. In the 1800s, war tested us, and we survived, though with some missteps. I view the last four years as a new kind of test. It's like inflating a balloon – you keep adding air until it bursts. With the challenges to the rule of law, it felt like we were on the verge of that balloon popping.