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2 <br /> WHEREAS, Mr. Williams consistently challenged racial and socioeconomic disparities in the <br /> criminal justice system in North Carolina, including racial bias in policing, unfair public housing <br /> admission provisions, high court costs and fees for indigent clients, inequitable pre-trial release <br /> and bail policies, institutional barriers to re-entry for formerly incarcerated persons, and police <br /> practices that target low-level crimes; and <br /> WHEREAS, James dedicated his career to working with other lawyers,judges, law enforcement <br /> officers, elected officials, and the community to address those disparities through efforts to bring <br /> transparency to policing decisions and judicial practices, promote body worn cameras for law <br /> enforcement officers and policies regarding broader access to police videos, and by leading <br /> public education initiatives and engaged community dialogue around racial bias in the criminal <br /> justice system; and <br /> WHEREAS, James undertook these efforts while also tirelessly and zealously representing his <br /> clients, including defendants in some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in our <br /> community, all of which were resolved without death penalty verdicts and in ways that helped <br /> the community begin to heal; and <br /> WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is a fearless advocate who cares deeply about the indigent clients that <br /> the Office of the Public Defender represents, and is dedicated to investigating every fact, <br /> developing compelling mitigation, retaining high-quality experts and filing every motion so that <br /> his clients receive the highest quality legal representation, as well as providing guidance, <br /> inspiration, and mentorship to those around him; <br /> NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does <br /> hereby extend to James E. Williams, Jr., our sincere and steadfast appreciation for his <br /> dedicated service to the Office of the Public Defender and to the residents of Orange County, <br /> for helping our community be a more just and equitable place, and for embodying the words of <br /> Thurgood Marshall, who said "You do what you think is right, and let the law catch up". <br /> This the 6th day of June, 2017. <br /> A motion was made by Chair Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Rich for the Board to <br /> adopt the resolution and authorized the Chair to sign the Resolution. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> James Williams thanked Chair Dorosin and the Board of County Commissioners for this <br /> acknowledgement. He said this Board should be proud of the groundbreaking decisions it is <br /> making to affect the criminal justice system and reform. He asked if the Board would <br /> communicate to its judicial stakeholders the importance of completing the second phase of the <br /> School of Government study on reforms in jury pool diversity. <br /> PUBLIC CHARGE <br /> Chair Dorosin dispensed with the reading of the Public Charge. <br /> 2. Public Comments <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br />