Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 10:20 AM
Subject: ACLU News: Monica Jones Conviction Overturned
Subject: ACLU News: Monica Jones Conviction Overturned
Crystal here from the ACLU, writing to inform you that Monica Jones’ conviction for manifesting intent to solicit prostitution was overturned today by the Superior Court of Arizona.
Jones was arrested and charged in May 2013 under a Phoenix law that the ACLU and others have argued is unconstitutional. In April 2014 she was convicted and then in August of that year she appealed her conviction. The ACLU filed an amicus brief in support of her appeal and has been supporting her since her arrest. Here is a background blog on her case: https://www.aclu.org/blog/
Monica Jones comment:
“Today is a great day! My wrongful conviction under the Phoenix manifestation law was vacated this morning. I am so grateful to my legal team and all of my supporters across the country and world. My conviction being vacated is important but it is a small win in our larger fight for justice. There are so many trans women and cisgender women who might be charged under this law in Phoenix and similar laws across the country. There is so much more work that needs to be done so that no one will have to face what I have no matter who they are or what past convictions they have.”
Comments from legal team:
-
Jean-Jacques “J” Cabou, a partner at the law firm of
PerkinsCoie
who represented Monica in her appeal and argued her case, said: “Monica
was convicted in an unconstitutional trial, under an unconstitutional
law, of a crime she didn’t commit. We are incredibly
pleased that the appellate court agreed that Monica was
unconstitutionally denied the presumption of innocence and that the
court vacated her conviction.”
-
Chase Strangio,
a staff attorney with the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project, who has been
working with Monica for
the past year and a half, said: “Like so many trans women of color,
Monica Jones was profiled and targeted by police for walking down the
street. Today’s reversal of her conviction is an important validation of
Monica’s brave fight to be seen and treated like
a human being.”
- Dan Pochoda, senior counsel at the ACLU of Arizona, who has also been working on Monica’s case, noted: “Monica Jones was targeted by law enforcement after her public opposition to the coercive treatment of sex workers by Project ROSE. The demise of this Project is based on the inaccurate claim that most adult sex workers are "trafficked" is further vindication of Monica.”
Best,
Crystal Cooper
Media Strategist
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad St., New York, NY 10004
■ 212.519.7894 ■ ccooper@aclu.org