News and Views with NC Policy Watch's Chris Fitzsimon

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Author and gerrymandering expert David Daley discusses the secret files of GOP political operative Thomas Hofeller, gerrymandering as NC prepares its latest redistricting maps, and his upcoming book: Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy.  Daley’s reporting has appeared in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Slate, the Washington Post, and New York magazine. He is a senior fellow at FairVote and the former editor of Salon.

ACLU-NC Attorney Cristina Becker discusses their new report: At All Costs: The Consequences of Rising Court Fines and Fees in North Carolina

Earlier this year, Steven Edwards landed on the cover of an important report by the American Civil Liberties Union detailing the impact of rising court fines and fees. Edwards fell on hard times after losing his leg and his brother in a 2003 car accident. He later served a two-year sentence on drug charges, and left prison owing $1,354.50 in court debt. But simply the inability to repay those court-costs landed Edwards back in jail years later, even though he faced no new charges. He was trapped in a modern-day debtors’ prison.

Representative Robert Reives discusses the Superior Court ruling striking down gerrymandered legislative districts and requiring the General Assembly to redraw those maps by September 18th in time to be used for the 2020 elections. Rep. Reives also discusses education funding, immigration reform, and restorative justice.

Chief Justice Cheri Beasley joins us to discuss the School Justice Partnership, court funding, and court fines and fees and the impact of low-income North Carolinians. Beasley also discusses Second Chance legislation and the bicentennial celebration of NC’s court system.