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AG Sessions has 'grave concerns' about consent decree in Baltimore

Posted at 1:09 PM, Apr 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-07 06:59:51-04

Today’s public fairness hearing is the final step before Judge James Bredar signs the Baltimore Police consent decree, an agreement of court ordered police reform struck between the Department of Justice and Baltimore City.

Earlier this week, the government under the new administration asked to delay this step by 90 days but that request was denied clearing the way for about 50 Baltimore residents to testify in open court.

Still, before residents got a chance to speak, justice department attorneys again asked the court for a delay saying Attorney General Jeff Sessions has, “grave concerns about this particular consent decree.”

Citing a crime spike in Baltimore and their concerns that this agreement may weaken effective policing, the DOJ reiterated its desire to review and assess the agreement with the city.

Attorneys for the city of Baltimore urged the judge not to delay the process saying civil rights and effective policing co-exist in this agreement the federal court mandated reforms helps the public build trust in the process.

It was a view echoed nearly 50 times by Baltimore citizens who then began to step up to the microphone.

"Do not delay,” said Greta Carter-Willis, “Allow this consent decree to go forward. Please do not delay."

Carter-Willis was the fifth person to speak this morning.

She spent her three minutes telling the judge how her son was killed by police in 2006 and that the Baltimore Police Department and this city need this reform.

Hers was emotional testimony, one of three mothers who lost sons to police shootings, but words she hopes helps convince what appears to be a now wavering justice department.

RELATED: Despite DOJ delay, Baltimore pledges to move forward with reforms

"My message for the DOJ, you have signed this decree. We are holding you accountable. You are the ones that came in, you found these inconsistencies within this department and you must stand to your word that you are going to allow it to go forward."

Because she and others say it needs to move forward, if anything for the next generation who also braved the weather to come downtown today to step before the judge to voice their support for reform.

"I came here today to speak, to give a voice to the voiceless and I am part of that. It doesn't get the exposure that it needs," said Frederick Douglass High School student Isaac Wilson.

But today it did, on the record and in front of the federal judge.

Nearly four hours of testimony mostly in favor of federally mandated police reform.

Justice Department attorneys would not field questions on their way out of court today but interim Baltimore City Solicitor David Ralph said the public's comments today are an important part of this process.

"Their thoughts and concerns were important to the development of the consent decree and I think the judge has that information and we will continue to consider that in terms of our policies and practices going forward,” Ralph said.

In all, 49 people signed up to speak today.

About 60 others submitted written statements to the court.

At the very end of the hearing, the justice department again asked for at least a 30 day delay to review and assess this agreement but right now the decision is in the hands of the judge whose signature is required in order to move this consent decree forward.