Judge Reeves returns to JSU The place where his thirst for justice began

Jeremy Anderson
MC301 Contributor/Staff

On Feb. 10, 2015, Jackson State University alumnus, Judge Carlton Reeves, made headlines across the nation when he delivered an emotional speech detailing the long history of racial injustice in Mississippi.

The history lesson came in the form of a criminal sentence for three young white men convicted for the slaying of James Craig Anderson in 2011, murdered not far Jackson State.

Before handing down the sentence, Reeves gave a speech simmering with raw emotion and the controlled internal rage of black Mississippians from centuries past.

Reeves is a man who knows all too well of Mississippi’s ugly history. In his speech, he constantly made references, and even named several victims of the legacy of Mississippi’s racist past. Although he grew up just after the Civil Rights Movement in Yazoo City, Miss., Reeves was not numb to the infamous Mississippi.

As an African-American federal judge, Reeves said, “Blacks have to be in positions of authority in all positions whether it’s education, economic, religion … all of them. But in particular, law enforcement. We need more black police officers, we need more black sheriffs, we need more black highway patrolmen, we need more black people in corrections. Because we need people that can identify with the folks over whom they have custody. So I do think it’s important for African-Americans to be involved in all facets of life.”

Developing a keen interest in politics and history while growing up in the Mississippi Delta, Reeves was a part of the first group of students to attend integrated classes in Yazoo City.  He eventually found his way to Jackson State for undergraduate school.

It was at JSU when Reeves realized that he wanted to be a judge.

While majoring in political science at JSU, which he calls, “one of the best decisions of my life,” Reeves excelled and was very engaged in his studies. He was also involved in the Student Government Association in his years at Jackson State.

After graduating from JSU, Reeves continued his education at the University of Virginia Law School.

His education at UVA propelled him into the legal path that has put him where he is today.

Reeves was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in December 2010.

Since his appointment, he has made trips to his alma mater, Jackson State University, to impart wisdom on students.

Recently, he sat down with two students from The Blue & White Flash for an exclusive interview in which he was asked light-hearted questions about himself, and also weighty questions about the judicial system.

Reeves showed little hesitation in answering the questions and his strong belief in the American legal system was evident, but was also not without a conscious in understanding certain discrepancies against minorities.

As a judge, he has certain opportunities to talk to the young men and women who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

An important question that Reeves poses to young minorities that are headed down a path of legal trouble is: “Why would you put your life in the hands of people you do not know? People who have no right … no obligation to love you … people who have no obligation … no right to care about you … Why would you want to put your life in the hands of anybody who doesn’t have to love you … Don’t give away that power of your uniqueness of your being to people who don’t have to care about you.”

As in Ferguson, Mo., suspicion arises when legal cases happen in cities or counties have populations that are predominantly African-American, but are represented by councils and law enforcement agencies that are predominantly white.

Even beyond the African-American minority, Reeves says that diversity is needed across all races.

“Diversity of thought brings about diversity of action. The diversity of inclusion opens the door for discussion. People see things different. People react to things differently,” said Reeves.

Diversity could possibly relieve some of the discrepancies shown in the prison population.  Black people have consistently been overrepresented in the penal system. According to the NAACP, blacks make up 1 million of the 2.3 million incarcerated peoples in America.

Reeves says that he can’t point out one main reason that this statistic exists, but he did state, “We have a drug crisis and the drug penalties have been extraordinarily onerous and the sentences are long … sometimes prosecutors might not give a break to one person that they might give to another.”

Reeves added, “There are a group of us that are indeed committing crimes and committing crimes over and over again.”

As the interview continued, Reeves said that he does not think that it is rational for minorities to fseel as if the legal system is disadvantageous to minorities.

“I am a person who believes that the constitution that we all live by was written for each and every one of us … the criminal justice system, the judicial system that we have is probably the best one in the world … if the system works like it should, I know sometimes it does not, but if the system looks like it should, you probably would not want to be in any other sort of any other criminal justice system that exists in the world,” said Reeves.

Many people across different backgrounds have varied opinions about America’s justice system, but Judge Reeves stated that the people can control how it operates.

“You should have faith in your system because we all can participate in our system. We all can vote. We all can run for office. We all can change the debate, make sure that the dynamics and the debate are what we want it to be. We need to hold our politicians accountable.

He added: “What you need to do is participate in the political process. Make sure your voice is heard. Vote every time that there is an election … all of those laws that are passed, all of those laws can be changed. Get involved with policy. Get involved with debate. Get involved with the electoral process. Politics control everything. Everything comes down to politics. And you have to be engaged.”