As I thought about how to close out this year, I kept thinking about the moments that stretched me, steadied me, and pulled me deeper into the work — in the courtroom and beyond it. This year reminded me that practicing law is never just about statutes or strategy, but it’s about people. Real people.… Continue reading Standing in the Gap: Reflections From a Defense Attorney
Author: Sonya
Justice: The Bridge Between Faith and Advocacy
As the holiday season unfolds, I’ve been reflecting on the deeper rhythms of faith. Beyond the lights and traditions, this time of year reminds me that justice is the heartbeat of scripture and that advocacy is one way we live that faith out loud. Justice in Scripture From the prophets to the gospels, justice is… Continue reading Justice: The Bridge Between Faith and Advocacy
When Justice and Compassion Collide
Reflections on balancing duty, empathy and humanity in the hardest cases I’m currently handling a case involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). CSAM refers to images or videos that depict the sexual abuse of minors. Preparing for trial in a matter like this has been one of the most emotionally challenging experiences of my career.… Continue reading When Justice and Compassion Collide
Bridging the Gap – Trauma-Informed and Culturally Competent Care for Incarcerated women
Incarcerated women face unique and complex health challenges that are often overlooked within correctional healthcare systems. Among the most critical gaps is the limited access to trauma-informed and culturally competent care, which is essential for addressing the deep-rooted trauma and diverse cultural needs that shape these women's health outcomes. This post explores why these approaches… Continue reading Bridging the Gap – Trauma-Informed and Culturally Competent Care for Incarcerated women
Breathless Justice: The Moral Cost of Nitrogen Executions
On January 25, 2024, Alabama made history—for all the wrong reasons. Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first person executed using nitrogen hypoxia, a method touted as “humane” but witnessed as harrowing. His death marked the beginning of a new, controversial chapter in American capital punishment. Smith gasped over 225 times. His body convulsed. His spiritual… Continue reading Breathless Justice: The Moral Cost of Nitrogen Executions
Behind Bars, Beyond Healing: The Invisible Wounds of Women’s Mental Health Crisis
Correctional healthcare systems were never designed with women’s needs in mind. This gap is especially devastating when it comes to mental health care. For many incarcerated women, jails and prisons have become default psychiatric institutions—places where mental illness is punished rather than healed. Correctional facilities have become the largest providers of mental health services in… Continue reading Behind Bars, Beyond Healing: The Invisible Wounds of Women’s Mental Health Crisis
TX-AL Series Finale: A Path Toward Justice and Redemption
This series began with a clear aim: to expose the scale of incarceration in Texas and Alabama, trace its historical roots, and humanize its impact. Over six posts, I’ve examined how these two states—distinct in history but aligned in consequence—embody the extremes of systemic injustice. Texas revealed the machinery: sprawling prisons, harsh sentencing, and the… Continue reading TX-AL Series Finale: A Path Toward Justice and Redemption
TX-AL Series Finale Preview
This series began with a clear aim: to expose the scale of incarceration in Texas and Alabama, trace its historical roots, and humanize its impact. Over six posts, I’ve examined how these two states—distinct in history but aligned in consequence—embody the extremes of systemic injustice. Texas revealed the machinery: sprawling prisons, harsh sentencing, and the… Continue reading TX-AL Series Finale Preview
No Hearing, No YMAC, Still Mercy
The Case That Almost Got Away My first appointed felony client is one I'll never forget. He was barely 18. Already on a six-year deferred probation. Already carrying two new state jail felony thefts. Already written off by the system. But he asked for YMAC—Young Men About Change. Not because he thought he deserved it.… Continue reading No Hearing, No YMAC, Still Mercy
Southern Sentences, Post 3: Heat, Hunger and Healthcare & Healthcare Behind Bars
Heat, Hunger, and Healthcare: The Human Cost of Texas Prisons Texas prisons are not just sites of confinement—they are crucibles of suffering. In the sweltering summer months, many facilities lack air conditioning, subjecting incarcerated individuals to deadly heat. Temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees, and the physical toll is compounded by inadequate access to water, ventilation,… Continue reading Southern Sentences, Post 3: Heat, Hunger and Healthcare & Healthcare Behind Bars
On (In)justice 