Author to discuss ‘The Case for Including Convicted Felons in Our Jury System’
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School will present Dr. James M. Binnall who will discuss his book, “Twenty Million Angry Men: The Case for Including Convicted Felons in Our Jury System,” during an online event Thursday, May 13, beginning at 1 p.m. via Webex.
Binnall is an associate professor of law, Criminology, and Criminal Justice, at California State University, Long Beach. He is also a practicing attorney and a formerly incarcerated person who spent just over 4 years in prison for a DUI homicide that claimed the life of his close friend. While incarcerated, Binnall took his LSATs and was accepted to law school. Once released, he earned his law degrees, was admitted to the State Bar of California, and received his Ph.D. in Criminology, Law and Society from
University of California, Irvine.
In his research, Binnall explores the statutory exclusion of individuals with a felony conviction from the jury process. “Twenty Million Angry Men: The Case for Including Convicted Felons in Our Jury System” reveals the flaws inherent in the justifications for felon-juror exclusion, as well as the negative impacts of the practice on jury deliberations and on the reintegration of those who have been convicted of a felony. The book’s primary thesis is that prospective jurors with a felony criminal history enhance, rather than detract from our jury system. In this way, felon-juror exclusion is both unnecessary and potentially damaging to the majority of U.S. jurisdictions that enforce this prevalent and severe collateral sanction.
The online event is sponsored by the Innocence Project and the Career and Professional Development Office. For additional information or to register, visit www.cooley.edu/events.
5 people charged in death of man who had seizures at jail
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — Four sheriff’s officers and a nurse have been charged in the death of a jail inmate in western Michigan who had a series of seizures, authorities said Friday.
The attorney general’s office filed involuntary manslaughter charges, accusing the five of willful neglect of duty in the 2019 death of Paul Bulthouse at the Muskegon County jail.
“Mr. Bulthouse died of gross neglect and due to complete disregard for human life by five individuals who were within feet of him but never acted to assist him,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said.
Bulthouse, 39, was arrested by North Shores police on a probation violation. He was classified as suicidal, which required monitoring by officers every 15 minutes, Nessel said.
He was in jail for about two weeks and died after at least 22 seizures over 5 1/2 hours, Nessel said.
Sheriff Michael Poulin said his office cooperated with investigations of Bulthouse’s death and provided hours of video as well as records and access to witnesses.
He said Nessel’s office has provided no additional evidence “that would permit our office to make any determination of wrongdoing.”
Bulthouse’s family has a lawsuit pending against the sheriff and a contactor that provides care at the jail.
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