WJI daily reads for Nov. 19, 2021

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kyle Rittenhouse acquitted.

As the verdict was read, Rittenhouse appeared to hold back sobs. When the final "not guilty" was announced, he dropped to his knees. He was helped back into his chair and hugged one of his attorneys, Corey Chirafisi.

The Washington Post: Why prosecutors get away with misconduct.

While prosecutors often hold news conferences or orchestrate “perp walks” when indicting people for crimes, when prosecutors themselves are accused of wrongdoing, state bars and other authorities make sure you never hear about it. “I can’t say more because it could subject me to a complaint myself,” (attorney Lara) Bazelon says.

Courthouse News Service: Environmental groups sue EPA over Gulf states air pollution.

The Hill: President Biden signs bills providing more resources to police.

The Washington Post: Democratic divide puts action on marijuana in doubt.

The conflict has come to a head in recent weeks after a push by Democratic and Republican lawmakers to attach the narrower banking legislation to the must-pass annual defense policy bill, which would ensure its passage in the coming months. The bill’s advocates say it would offer a substantial step toward legitimizing and rationalizing the cannabis industry in the 47 states that have moved to at least partially legalize marijuana — allowing businesses to move away from risky cash-only operations.

That push has hit a roadblock in the Senate, however, where Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has sided with Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-N.J.), who are seeking to assemble a comprehensive bill that would federally decriminalize the drug, tax it and potentially expunge the criminal records of those previously convicted of having bought or sold it. Passing the narrower bill, they argue, would make passing their broader bill more difficult.

​“To me, it wouldn’t be a win,” Booker said Tuesday. “It would be a setback for expunging the records of all of the people who are waiting for some kind of justice. And unfortunately, if you do that, the pressure won’t be there to get it done.”

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