61 Inmates Released

- Scott introduces My Lord, The Hon. Judge John Erlick to key Ugandan Judges.

- My view from the "Secretariate" table in Mbarara Prison. A Pepperdine law student represents an Ugandan "remandee." Another inmate serves as the translator.

- Most of the Prison Project Team - Scott and I are still in the prison printing a letter requesting that the charges against two inmates be dismissed based on the tenacious work of a Pepperdine law student.

We were back in the prisons again last week with a big group of US lawyers and law students.

In just four days, we represented over 400 clients and resolved 332 cases. Of these, 61 remandees were released on the same day with either dismissed cases or sentences that were shorter than time served.

These trips are an intense snapshot of what Pepperdine’s Ugandan Team is doing here all year around – representing underserved accused persons with the intent of getting their cases heard and resolved to help reduce prison backlogs and overcrowding. These “Prison Projects” also serve as invaluable capacity building exercises for Ugandan prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges as well as a time to train scores of Ugandan law students. This past week, we also folded in 16 US law students and a handful of US lawyers who come to serve on this specific project.

We reviewed all different kinds of cases – murder, defilement (rape or rape of a child), aggravated robbery as well as many lower-level charges. The US team was surprised by how many inmates were being held for months for stealing bananas, matoke (a banana like fruit that is used for starch) and plastic chairs. In previous sessions – the big crime has been fishing (in Lake Victoria) without a license or selling a chicken on the side of a road.

We were also honored this trip to host a long-time friend of Scott’s, Retired King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick. In Uganda, judges are called, “My Lord,” so we insisted on using this moniker for him throughout the week. If you bump into him in the US, it would be totally appropriate to resurrect this title.

Scott first met Judge Erlick when he served as a prosecutor years ago and tried cases in Judge Erlick’s court. Scott made a list of Seattle legal friends he’s wanted to come and see the work here even before we moved to Kampala. John was the first on that list.

John has served all over the world doing legal advocacy and training in judicial capacity building. He’s a selfless, wise, humble and engaging friend who we hope will come again. Student’s loved working with him and as a former Professor of Professional Responsibility in the Seattle University Law School, he was well equipped to challenge students and help impart practical tools that they will use for the rest of their legal careers.

Thank you to My Lord, The Hon. Judge John Erlick and all of our US visitors as well as a remarkable team of Ugandan advocates who work every day to improve the Ugandan judicial system to reduce prison overcrowding and better serve marginalized accused persons.

Its a honor to watch you all at work!