Black and White and Thin Blue Lines

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     In honor of Black History Month, Serge and Clarke interview the third African American woman appointed to the Superior Court of New Jersey. Serge was able to secure this interview because Frances Lawrence Antonin, who helped break barriers for African American female attorneys especially in New Jersey, is his mother. Clarke recommends this interview for a reason not nearly as important as Judge Antonin's achievement: this is an interesting woman who shares her life's experience in a kind way that is certain to inspire us all to be better citizens and fellow Americans. This Episode is Part 1. The second part of the interview will be uploaded in one week on February 16, 2022. Enjoy. 

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On January 13, 2022, the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland announced a four-count federal indictment against the Hon. Marilyn Mosby, the State's Attorney for Baltimore City. There are two counts of perjury related to making a withdraw of funds from her retirement account after alleging a Covid hardship and two counts of making a false statement on a loan application. The U.S. Attorney's Press Release, and statements made by experts, refer to a $45k federal tax lien. Mr. Steve Kauffman, a former IRS agent, a CPA, and an attorney help Serge and Clarke work through the Indictment. This episode is interesting and may just change your mind about what is going on here.

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On December 29, 2021 at 9:41 PM, two Village of Bradley police officers -- Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and Officer Tyler Bailey -- responded to a Comfort Inn motel for a call about barking dogs left in a car. While investigating this minor complaint, Ofc. Bailey was shot in the head; Sgt. Rittmanic killed with her own firearm. Two young persons have been arrested: Darius Sullivan, the accused shooter, and his pregnant girlfriend, Xandria Harris. In this episode, Clarke describes this unfolding case in detail and then Serge and Clarke discuss the local prosecutor's call for the federal death penalty. 

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Serge and Clarke update their audience on everything from Derek Chauvin's federal conviction to Kyle Rittenhouse's celebrity status, along with Serge's "worst of the year" and Clarke's "best of the year."  An easy listen but with a note of sadness at the beginning of the episode as Serge and Clarke acknowledge the passing of Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley. 

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On December 16, 2021 on Pennington Avenue in Curtis Bay, BPD Officer Keona Holley, on-duty, in uniform, and sitting in a marked Baltimore police cruiser was shot multiple times by two men. The men then fled, only to shoot and kill a civilian in Baltimore about 90 minutes later. The Baltimore Police Department has arrested two men for these cruel and wicked crimes.  In this unscheduled podcast, Serge Antonin and Clarke Ahlers react to the story of Officer Keona Holley -- the latest casualty in the war on police. 

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On August 23, 2020, a white Kenosha police officer, Rusten Sheskey, shot a black man, Jacob Blake, in the back during a call for service. Riots erupted. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year old armed with a rifle, shot three men during the riots, killing two. Many were outraged and condemned Rittenhouse as a "white supremacist." Then candidate Biden wrote: "These shots pierce the soul of our nation." Rittenhouse was indicted and charged as an adult. His trial took place during November, 2021. A news camera was allowed into the courtroom. On November 19, 2021, Rittenhouse was found 'not guilty' on all charges. In this podcast, Serge Antonin and Clarke Ahlers discuss what they believe contributed to the incident and whether the case is a statement case about race in America.

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Our guest in this episode is Sgt. James Lilley, Howard County Police Department, ret.  James ('Jim")  Lilley is a nationally renowned expert in police tactics, the creator of a police training series on handgun retention by police, and the author of fiction and non-fiction books. He is a former marine and a lifetime student of karate, awarded his 9th degree black belt in Okinawa in 2011. In this episode, Jim discusses the proper use of choke holds in self-defense and why he believes that police ought to be trained in the use of the choke hold. Our guest explains that Derek Chauvin's knee to the neck of George Floyd was an unwarranted use of force that was NOT a choke hold. 

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On February 26, 2012, a “neighborhood watch captain” named George Zimmerman shot and killed a young African American man named Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. Almost eight years later to the day, in Brunswick, Georgia, 264 miles due north of Sanford, Florida, a group of self-appointed law enforcers – Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan -- pursued another African American man, Ahmaud Arbery.  During the pursuit, Travis McMichael twice shot Ahmaud Arbery in the chest with a shotgun killing him. The two cases are remarkably similar. In this episode, Serge and Clarke reflect on the way in which the cases unfolded, the juries were selected, and the shooters defended themselves in the courtroom. 

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The chief prosecutor in Baltimore City and Prince George's County Maryland released their respective "Do Not Call Lists" after a Maryland appellate court ruling. The "Do Not Call Lists" are lists of former and current federal, state, and local law enforcement officers deemed unfit to testify by prosecutors because the prosecutors question the officer's credibility. In some cases, the officers have been convicted of crimes. In other cases, the officers have been charged and convicted of administrative wrongdoing. In some cases, the officer has not been charged administratively or criminally. Serge Antonin and Clarke Ahlers evaluate "Do Not Call Lists" and offer support for their conflicting opinions.  

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In the United States, many states have made medical marijuana available to anyone with a medical marijuana card. Some states have decriminalized marijuana and still others have made recreational marijuana use legal for adults. Serge and Clarke discuss their thoughts on this subject and especially the need for better THC testing for drugged driving cases.