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cover of episode The Kids of Rutherford County - Ep. 2

The Kids of Rutherford County - Ep. 2

2023/11/16
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Serial
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
L
Leslie Coleman
M
Mark Downing
W
Wes Clark
叙
叙述者
Topics
Wes Clark：作为一名年轻律师，我在Rutherford County少年法庭目睹了大量儿童因轻微罪行被非法拘留的现象。我努力根据田纳西州法律为我的当事人辩护，但法官Donna Davenport总是以他们对自身和社会构成威胁为由驳回我的论点。这让我感到沮丧和灰心。我与其他律师讨论过这个问题，但他们似乎对此习以为常。最终，我与Mark Downing合作，成功地对法院提起诉讼，并迫使他们释放了一名被关在禁闭室的儿童。这对我来说是一个个人胜利，也为其他案件树立了先例。 叙述者：Rutherford County少年法庭存在一个严重的问题：许多儿童因轻微罪行被非法拘留。法官Donna Davenport对该系统拥有绝对的权力，她对法律的解释和执行方式与法律本身相悖。Wes Clark和Mark Downing的努力揭示了该系统中的缺陷，并最终导致了田纳西州禁止对儿童进行禁闭室惩罚。 Leslie Coleman：作为一名在Davenport法官领导下工作多年的检察官，我承认该系统存在问题。Davenport法官的严厉方式并不能解决问题，更有效的做法是为家庭提供治疗和辅导。虽然我试图在Davenport法官的规则下工作，但我承认有时会感到沮丧。 Mark Downing：我与Wes Clark在少年法庭工作多年，我们因共同的经历和为儿童辩护的共同目标而建立了友谊。我们一起努力挑战这个系统，最终成功地对法院提起诉讼，并迫使他们改变做法。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Wes Clark, a young lawyer with a troubled past, finds his calling in juvenile justice after being advised to work in juvenile court by lawyers he met in recovery circles.
  • Wes Clark graduated law school with a troubled past involving addiction and drug charges.
  • He was advised to work in juvenile court by lawyers he met in recovery circles.
  • Juvenile court cases don't pay well and lack the prestige of adult criminal court.

Shownotes Transcript

A young lawyer named Wes Clark can’t get the Rutherford County juvenile court to let his clients out of detention — even when the law says they shouldn’t have been held in the first place. He’s frustrated and demoralized, until he makes a friend. 

From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

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