Judiciary
[WASHINGTON, DC] – The passage of two marijuana-related amendments to the 2016 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill and a close vote on another may signal a watershed moment in the fight to respect states’ rights, increase access to cannabis-derived, effective medical treatments, and reform our nation’s outdated criminal marijuana policies, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) said today.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Late this evening, the U.S. House of Representatives approved on a voice vote an amendment to the 2016 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill authored by Congressman Steve Cohen’s (TN-09) to secure $4 million for to local law enforcement agencies working to reduce their backlogs of untested rape kits. Untested rape kits are a significant public safety hazard that prevents law enforcement from apprehending violent criminals, increases the risk of additional crimes, and robs victims of the justice they deserve.
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) today applauded President Obama’s nomination of U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III to serve as District Court Judge for the Western District of Tennessee. The Congressman recommended Stanton to the President after convening a bipartisan, biracial screening committee of local attorneys. Mr. Stanton is a lifelong Memphian and graduate of Central High School who has served as U.S. Attorney for nearly 5 years.
Congressman Cohen has repeatedly called for Judiciary Committee hearing on police reform and the use of deadly force against minorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] – At a hearing of the full House Judiciary Committee that Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen (TN-09) requested repeatedly in the months following Michael Brown’s shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, Congressman Cohen called for greater police accountability and reforms to deadly force policies that in recent months have left several young, unarmed African-American men dead at the hands of police.
Cases involving police use of deadly force should be investigated by an independent prosecutor instead of local prosecuting attorneys who often work closely with law-enforcement officers and thus have a conflict of interest, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen said Wednesday.
Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., filed legislation that seeks to push state and local governments to require independent investigations and prosecutions into allegations of deadly police force. The lawmakers say the legislation would provide justice to victims of police violence.
Cases involving police use of deadly force should be investigated by an independent prosecutor instead of local prosecuting attorneys who often work closely with law-enforcement officers and thus have a conflict of interest, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen said Wednesday.
Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., filed legislation that seeks to push state and local governments to require independent investigations and prosecutions into allegations of deadly police force. The lawmakers say the legislation would provide justice to victims of police violence.