Jewish Law - Legal Briefs ("Weiss v. United States of America")

Jewish Law - Examining Halacha, Jewish Issues and Secular Law

Weiss v. United States of America
Supreme Court of the United States (1990)

CONCLUSION

Prejudicial bias is a stubborn thing. Despite society's best efforts to eradicate it, it refuses to die. If anything, society today is becoming increasingly polarized along racial and ethnic lines. Tragically, as this case and the cases cited above illustrate, the criminal justice system does not always alleviate such polarization. All too often, the system feeds upon existing prejudicial stereotypes, and exacerbates tensions by making blatant that which is only latent.

For the reasons stated above, amici respectfully urge this Court to grant a writ of certiorari and grasp this opportunity to right the wrong suffered by Steven Weiss -- and to issue clear guidelines that will help ensure that other criminal defendants will receive the fair trial to which they are constitutionally entitled, free from the ugly taint of racial and ethnic bias.

Respectfully submitted,

Of Counsel: ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ Harvard Law School Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 495-4617	DAVID ZWIEBEL* MORTON M. AVIGDOR Agudath Israel of America 84 William Street New York, NY 10038 (212) 797-9000
JOSEPH M. LIPNER Irell & Manella 1800 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067 (213) 277-1010	LOIS WALDMAN MARC D. STERN American Jewish Congress 15 East 84th St. New York, NY 10028 (212) 360-1545
	JEFFREY P. SINENSKY STEVEN M. FREEMAN Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith 823 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 (212) 490-2525

* Counsel of Record

Dated: August 14, 1991

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