Monday, June 15, 2009
Justice for Teish and all trans people
Posted by Emelye Waldherr at 7:17 AM
http://emelyes-kitchen.blogspot.com/2009/06/justice-for-teish-and-all-trans-people.html (http://emelyes-kitchen.blogspot.com/2009/06/justice-for-teish-and-all-trans-people.html)
DeLee's attorney, Clarence Johnson, has already tried and failed to remove the hate crimes designation as unconsitutional. Thank goodness Onondaga County Judge William Welsh saw the ploy as the desperate attempt it was and ruled against it. So far, it hasn't come up, as far as I know, but I have some more misgivings about this case. I fear that the defense will not only use the "trans panic" excuse in one form or another but will also try to remove the hate crime charge by pointing out that Teish was a trans woman and that she was therefore not covered by existing New York hate crimes law.