On Friday, December 28, 2012, the Florida Civil Rights Association issued the following press release:
Recently, State Attorney Elect Jeff Ashton announced the appointments of senior level management to his administration that did not include African American or Hispanic prosecutors, and ended the careers of several women as bureau chiefs.
The Florida Civil Rights Association calls on State Attorney Elect Jeff Ashton to end the policies that stifled the advancement of black and brown prosecutors efforts to reach senior management in the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, said the organization’s president, J. Willie David, III.
Since winning the election, the State Attorney Elect has made several high profile moves in an effort to get prepare the office for his new administration. However, there have been no announcements of any promotions or hiring of black or brown prosecutors for any senior level management positions, David stated.
The National Black Prosecutors Association (http://www.blackprosecutors.org/nationalofficers.html) will host its 30th Annual Conference and Job Fair in Orlando at the Rosen Shingle Creek, from July 14-20, 2013 in a county with a history lacking black prosecutors at senior management level at the State Attorney’s office.
Ashton’s failure to announce the inclusion of any black or brown attorneys to senior levels of management in his upcoming administrations raises serious questions and indicates that he is willing to continue the policies of the old administration in which a glass ceiling prevented any black or brown prosecutors from having senior level administrative positions, stated David.
An all white administration in the State Attorney’s office creates the perception of “imperfect justice” in the eyes of African Americans and Hispanics, stated David.
While the State Attorney Elect has plenary power to set the Office of State Attorney in place as he sees fit, to intentionally disregard people of color in senior management positions does nothing less that to permanently instill a shatter proof glass ceiling of bias and bigotry in the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office that harms it’s community of color, said David.
Seeing how black and Hispanic votes aided him in his effort to unset a long time State Attorney, it is inexplicable as to why the State Attorney Elect would disregard the contributions blacks and Hispanic prosecutors can make to the State Attorney, David said.
While the FCRA is not calling for quotas, the FCRA calls on Mr. Ashton to end the blatant disregard of black and brown Attorneys to stop. If Mr. Ashton has any desire to have the electorate believes that he speaks for all people in the Ninth Circuit. The fact that Mr. Ashton can visit black and Hispanic churches during the election asking for black and brown votes but refuse to appoint any black and Hispanics Attorney to senior level administration positions is distubring, David added.
The Florida Civil Rights Association believes that there are many reasons why it is important to have a diverse group of prosecutors and senior administrators. First, because it is important that prosecutors get smart on crime rather than always tough, the State Attorney needs a wide range of ideas that addresses the differences in the cultural differences in the community it serves. Second, in order to maintain credibility the electorate needs to know that regardless of race, its State Attorney has a fair and balanced approach when making charging decisions, especially in case in which the death penalty maybe sought.
If the bodies of advisers to the State Attorney are indifferent to the issues surrounding race, they will be indifferent if one race or another is disproportionately impacted by decision in handing cases. Moreover, a group of advisers who are only concerned with the political life of the State Attorney will be indifferent to the corruption that is inherent in politics.
The Florida Civil Rights Association is willing to assist the State Attorney Elect by recruiting black and brown attorneys or prosecutors qualified to serve in management level position at the State Attorney’s Office. It’s time for Mr. Ashton to take diversity and inclusion seriously in his newly elected role as Chief prosecutor.
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State Attorney Elect Jeff Ashton’s Senior Management Appointments
1. Chief Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick (White Female)
2. Chief Assistant / Executive Director – Richard Wallsh (White Male)
3. Intake Bureau Chief – Ryan Williams (White Male)
4. County Court Bureau Chief – William Jay (White Male)
5. Felony Court Bureau Chief – Mark Wixtrom (White Male)
6. Juvenile Court Bureau Chief – Sid Savitz (White Male)
7. MBI-OCIB Chief Prosecutor (Unknown)
8. Victim Advocacy Director (Unknown)
Orlando Sentinel :
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-12-19/news/os-jeff-ashton-state-attorney-hires-20121219_1_jeff-ashton-intake-bureau-linda-drane-burdick
State Attorney Lawson Lamar’s Administration
Felony Chief (White Female)
County Chief (White Female)
Juvenile Chief (White Female)
Victim Advocacy Director (White Female)
See website for other management positions
http://sao9.net/what-we-do/
