What did you learn about yourself as you were writing this book? The Manifest Freedom Fund provides capital and resources to justice-impacted entrepreneurs. Before shifting her entire focus toward civil rights endeavors, Barnett was on track for a lucrative career as a corporate lawyer, working on mergers and acquisitions. [24] Copeland was one of 330 commutations the president granted on his last day in office. The President saved Trentons life today."[25]. Brittany K. Barnett is an award-winning attorney and entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. Named after the purest love Brittany has ever known, her grandmother Lena, Milena Reign cultivates content and talent from two special groups: (1) those directly impacted by the criminal justice system and (2) those from Brittany's beloved South - helping them lean into their gifts of storytelling to inspire the world. There were times when she missed the clemency list, and I couldnt even get out of bed. First, a conviction for possession of cocaine, marijuana and a weapon. Every one of them, man. Bogota. Brittany K. Barnett: I love East Texas. So it had this racially biased impact, and I think that thats how we got here. Barnett embarked on her childhood dreams by joining the University of Houston Law Center where she did a Juris Doctor in law. Why you should listen As a corporate attorney, Brittany K. Barnett was committed to pro bono representation of clients unjustly sentenced under federal drug laws. investor. Right now, we see this opioid epidemic happening, which is horrible and devastating, but were rightfully treating it as a public health crisis. [22] The sentencing judge in the case, Judge Henry Coke Morgan Jr., wrote a letter advocating for Jacobs's petition for clemency, explaining that he would not have handed down a life sentence if he had not been required to do so by law. [21] Amazon Books selected the book as the Featured Debut for the Best Books of the Month. Her mother was a crack cocaine addict. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. It took a whole village to help get me free,said Chris Young. Brittany K. Barnett is an award-winning attorney and entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. Also learn about how she is rich at the age of 49 years old? In Bogota, where my grandparents lived, opioids and meth have taken over. [7] She later came across the similar case of Donal Clark, who was serving a 30-year sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense. While in law school, Barnett completed internships with the Honorable Nancy F. Atlas in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and with the Honorable Rene H. Toliver in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. It implemented the 100-to-1 ratio that was arbitrary and had no rational basis other than that its no secret that more affluent white people were using powder cocaine at the time and crack cocaine was running rampant through Black communities. Thousands have had their lives changed due to her selflessness in meeting the needs of those in Prison. [2] She then went to Winstead PC in the Finance & Banking Practice Group. Microsoft is just one of several tech giants cutting its workforce to deal with new economic realities. In court, Sharp said Young did not deserve his fate. "[22], Trenton Copeland was profiled in Rolling Stone magazine for his petition for clemency to President Obama after receiving a life sentence for three nonviolent drug offenses. She needed rehabilitation, not prison. [1], She received her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Attorney And Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, Djimy Alexis Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, NetWorth & Know More, attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. As an SMU law student interning in a Houston court, Barnett had a front-row seat to the horrors created by the mandatory minimum laws sending generations of Black Texans to federal prison. BKB: Absolutely. author. Brittany is founder of a series of nonprofits and social enterprises, including the Buried Alive Project, Girls Embracing Mothers, the Manifest Freedom Fund, and Milena Reign LLC. Texass Most Venomous Caterpillar, Texass First Nonalcoholic Bottle Shop Reflects the Shifting Culture Around Drinking. Primary Practice Location: Dallas , Texas. Brittany K. Barnett (formerly Byrd) is an American attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. Ms. Bishop is the sister of Nancy Bishop Langert, who was murdered in 1990 along with her husband and their unborn baby. Together with her former clients, Sharanda Jones and Corey Jacobs, Barnett founded Buried Alive, a nonprofit organization that battled federal drug laws that unjustly imprisoned people. Emily McCullar is a senior editor covering pop culture, news, and Texas history. Her tirelesswork hasfreednumerous individuals from overly harsh sentences imposed by draconian federal drug laws, including seven clients who received executive clemency from President Obama. [23] The witnesses in her trial consisted of fellow drug offenders who testified in exchange for lighter sentences. She advocated for President Donald Trump to help get Young out of jail. Brittany K. Barnett is an attorney, author, and entrepreneur who thrives at the intersection of hope, justice, and freedom. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, American Bar Association's Young Lawyer Division, "GIRLS EMBRACING MOTHERS Brittany Byrd '09", "Meet the Kim Kardashian-backed 'women warriors' who free people from life sentences", "PricewaterhouseCoopers Company - 27050 Employees - US Staff", "Good Works Under 40 honors top Dallas community volunteers", "Non-violent drug sentencing has left thousands of people buried alive in prison", "Sens. I just want to tell people that humanity is one of the greatest creations and is one of the greatest species. All we had was Just Say No, which created this culture of, If you do drugs, its your fault. We didnt know how the Trump administration was going to treat criminal justice issues or prioritize criminal justice issues, but I am blessed to have been a part of the legal team for Alice Johnson, who was one of the first people to receive clemency from Donald Trump. She also has a non-profit calledGirls Embracing Mothers. Her address is, Your email address will not be published. His windows are never open. The Buried Alive Project focuses solely on people serving life for drug offenses, which includes about 1,300 to 1,500 people nationally. Ive always felt the heartbeat of the people behind bars, but writing the book really gave me that time to be, like, wow, this country is locking up the very ingenuity our nation needs to thrive. It does not make us safer. Just like everybody else in America, sometimes we let our neighborhoods and our circumstances be a prison themselves. MV: What was it like to go from the Obama administration to the Trump administration over the past four years? The heartbeat. So uncovering that issue and really pounding the pavement to get this motion in front of the court really the best way possible, that was the highlight of the case process for me. Statutory Profile Last Certified On: 03/03/2021. After two years, Barnett and her team made a major discovery. [4], December 4, 2018, Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Chuck Grassley held a forum on pending criminal justice legislation. Inspired by her own difficult experience as the daughter of an incarcerated mother, Brittany founded GEM to empower women in prison and their daughters to break the cycle of incarceration and lead . Brittany K. Barnett. And I wrote the book to recognize the people. Brittany has had an influence across the country for her life-saving work. [23], Corey Jacobs was 47 years old and 17 years into a life sentence for a first-time drug charge when Obama granted him clemency. A friend named Keyon got life without parole after being named as an accomplice by alleged dealers arrested in a police raid. As a little girl, she recounts that she wanted to be a lawyer like Clair Huxtable, a character on The Cosby Show, but had lost that dream by high school because there were no lawyers in her rural East Texas community, and certainly no Black women lawyers. From Fulbright to the White House, the beautifully written, often haunting. Since the murders of her family members, she has been a passionate voice for forgiveness and mercy, particularly in the criminal justice system. Marijuana Venture 4000 Airport Way S. Seattle, WA 98108, @2020 - All Right Reserved. [26] The Obama administration denied her petition for clemency in January 2017, however, after separate meetings with Kardashian West and her husband, Kanye West,[27] President Donald Trump commuted Johnson's sentence. BKB: The transition was one of a lot of uncertainty. Then at 19,another conviction,for possession of less than half a gram of cocaine and marijuana. Pamela Bardhi, who was friendly with Ana Walshe in professional settings, said she never saw any indications Washes life was in danger. Brittany K. wiki profile will be updated soon as we collect Brittany K. Barnetts Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. During this time, an unlikely supporter came to Youngs defense Kevin Sharp, the same judge who sentenced him to jail years ago,advocated for Chriss release. [3], Multiple clients of Barnett took advantage of the clemency initiative President Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder began in 2014. against draconian drug sentencesand how her work is only just beginning. Young, now 32, was in jail 10 years, one month and 10 days. As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother, Brittany knows first-hand the impact of mass incarceration is far-reaching, devastating families and entire communities. There are consequences that come from that. And I make no excuses for my clients selling drugs. In battling this epidemic that devastates families and ravages communities, she has taken on a roster of clients who are almost exclusively people serving life sentences for federal drug offenses. But Im not playing those games anymore. Find the area youre passionate about and make a difference that way. We work to empower them to break the cycle of incarceration and lead successful lives.. These Lawyers Are Trying to Change That", "Pusha T launches criminal reform campaign Third Strike Coming Home", "The Injustice Deep Within the Justice System", "5 books not to miss: Jane Fonda writes about climate change, plus new Chuck Palahniuk", "Obama adds to historic number of federal prisoners granted clemency", "How a first crack cocaine offense led to a life sentence", "Meet Trenton Copeland, Who Sees Obama as Last Shot to Leave Prison", "Obama grants final 330 commutations to nonviolent drug offenders", "Trump has commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman whose case was championed by Kim Kardashian", "President Trump Commutes Sentence of Alice Marie Johnson", "How Jared Kushner, Kim Kardashian West and Congress drove the criminal justice overhaul", "New Friends New Life Announces 2020 ProtectHER Award Recipients Natalie Nanasi and Brittany K. Barnett", "Kim Kardashian Joins Prison Reform Attorneys in the Fight to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders", "In remembering her own mother, activist and attorney makes Mother's Day plea for incarcerated women", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brittany_K._Barnett&oldid=1104086781, 2013 National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Finalist , 2013 Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2013 Outstanding Young Lawyer of Dallas Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 2020 ProtectHER Award New Friends New Life, This page was last edited on 12 August 2022, at 15:18. Was that always your intention when you set out to write a memoir? Barnett is also the founder of Girls Embracing Mothers, a non-profit organization that provides support for girls with mothers in prison. Thanks to Attorney Brittany K. Barnett and her team of civil rights lawyers, Young is free. Southern University Law Center is approved by theCouncil of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association to award the juris doctorate degree. Associate professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego, Professor of psychology, George Mason University, and bestselling author, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, co-director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and co-founder of the Lifespan Research Foundation, William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School, Professor of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Faculty Director of the Greater Good Science Center, and bestselling author, Author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books Quiet and Bittersweet. This dream, however, had faded by the time she was in high school because there was no lawyer to look up to in her home area. The title is taken from a sermon of Martin Luther King Jr. that was based on Jesus's Parable of the Friend at Night. He and his co-defendants were just fringe participants in a much larger drug conspiracy, said formerU.S. District Court JudgeKevin Sharp. "All of my clients were serving time in federal prison under outdated federal drug laws and so I've had 7 clients who received clemency under President Obama and four clients over Donald Trump," Barnett said. At once a coming-of-age story and a powerful evocation of what it takes to bring hope and justice to a system built to resist both at every turn, A Knock at Midnight lays bare the dire human costs of our broken legal system. Theyve each left their fingerprints on my soul. Brittany K. Barnett is an award-winning attorney and entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. But he still has two years left, said Barnett. Your email address will not be published. All of my clients were serving time in federal prison under outdated federal drug laws and so Ive had 7 clients who received clemency under President Obama and four clients over Donald Trump, Barnett said. She wrote a best-selling book, A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, which she hopes will open a window for the world to see that her clients are human beings just like any other. Her forthcoming memoir, AKnockatMidnight, will be published by The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, in June 2020. BKB: Every one of them, man. Brittany K. Barnett didn't set out to be a crusader. Im hopeful that we see a push to go beyond the First Step Act of 2018 and move on to the second, third, fourth and fifth step, starting with retroactivity and some of the laws that were changed. She was going to die in prison. It wasnt the stereotype you hear about with gang wars and rioting. Federal Judge Kevin Sharp sentenced him to two lifelong terms in prison without parole on a nonviolent drug charge. Here we are updating just estimated networth of Brittany K. Barnett salary, income and assets. Weve gotten by without help before, and we can keep doing what were doing if the help comes or not. Ms. Barnett will be interviewed by Jeanne Bishop. But the two administrations were quite different. Barnett ultimately ditched a career in corporate law to represent nonviolent drug offenders full-time. It was also a time for me to reflect on the work Ive done as a corporate lawyer and working on these federal drug cases pro bono. [2] Barnett credits her mother's own incarceration with teaching her that persons in prison were often treated as "unworthy of any compassion or concern. Most people think of prisoners as people unworthy of compassion or love. The Buried Alive Project works to dismantle life without parole sentences handed down under federal drug laws. [3], Barnett attended The University of Texas at Arlington,[4] earning a bachelor's degree in 2005 and a master's degree in 2006 in accounting. It seemed like an accepted part of life, like, This is just the way it is. It wasnt until I got to college that I realized how powerful it was. Through the organization Buried Alive, which she co-founded with Sharanda Jones and Corey Jacobs, she came to national attention when she and her co-counsel, MiAngel Cody, litigated the release of 17 people in 90 days. MV: What takes up the bulk of your time right now? But then it gave me a chance to reflect on just how brilliant my clients are. She represented lending institutions in matters related to real estate, secure financing, and acquisition financings. Brittany K. is a phenomenal celebrity influencer. More inside. [12] The effort resulted in 17 persons being released under provisions of the First Step Act. Theyve each left their fingerprints on my soul. [7] While in law school, Barnett completed internships with the Honorable Nancy F. Atlas in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and with the Honorable Rene H. Toliver in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Moderna announced its experimental RSV vaccine has been successful during trials. BKB: Right now Im working on sustainable liberation. I wanted it to shine in a way that hasnt been done. We have people serving life sentences today for marijuana and other drug offenses. Barnett has worked to get 11 clients freed from federal prison through presidential clemency or presidential pardon in the past six years. And it looks different here. Over the past few months, claims BET.com, 90 Days of Freedom and The Decarceration Collective have helped free approximately 17 women and men from prison, allowing them to get . During this time she founded Girls Embracing Mothers Inc, a nonprofit organization empowering girls to break the beliefs of incarceration and live a purposeful life. But Sharanda's case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. Heres What We Want at the Park. The 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act passed with little to no legislative history. And we did. By day Brittany moved billion-dollar deals, and by night she worked pro bono to free clients in nearly hopeless legal battles. entrepreneur. When Barnett was 22, her mother, a crack cocaine addict, was arrested and sent to prison for eight years. It was this appeal for law and order, it was this fear that was carried out into the country about drugs and crack, in particular, which is unfortunate because we had this crack epidemic. But shed be telling me to get back to work, telling me we could do this, that we could get her free. [22] In response to the decision, Barnett said "The presidents mercy and belief in redemption literally saved Coreys life. The lack of funding has been extremely frustrating, because were really trying to save lives, and were struggling for funding. Have you picked up a copy of the October 2022 yet? But as you see in the book, the war on drugs was hitting us hard, and as a kid, that was hard to see. Even with all of that, I still love East Texas. But Im not playing those games anymore. Questions about the accreditation of Southern University and A&M College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOCs website (www.sacscoc.org). Also, help by voting and getting involved in not just national elections, but local elections that have a huge impact as well. The lack of funding has been extremely frustrating, because were really trying to save lives, and were struggling for funding. NHC tracks uncommon January disturbance in Atlantic, California gets more rain and snow, but dry days are ahead, As tornadoes hit, survivors hid in tubs, shipping container, Storm-battered California gets more wind, rain and snow, In Alabama, tornadoes rattle historic civil rights community, Gov. Barnetts new memoir, A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, explores how that war shaped her life and career. What now? BKB: I came to terms with trauma. And 10 days formerly Byrd ) is an American attorney and entrepreneur focused on impact. She is rich at the intersection of hope, justice, and were struggling for.. 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