It didn’t take but a few moments to ascertain that Madison Judge Everett Mitchell and I shared a worldview.
I made that discovery during an impromptu interview Monday with Mitchell, who is running for the state Supreme Court. I opened the conversation by declaring we have a unique opportumity to make Black History on February 21, instead of merely reading about it.
He laughed.
Not because my statement was humorous but because he revealed he had offered a similar notion to an audience a week earlier.
That we share a consistent sociopolitical philosophy was additionally confirmed moments later when the juvenile court judge said his judicial philosophy was rooted in Frederick Douglass’ oft-quoted maxim: ‘it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.’
Totally by coincidence, I posted that exact quote Sunday as part of my social media series, ‘Wisdom Weekend.’
On most subjects discussed during the interview, we found commonality, which is in stark contrast to my interviews with Black Democrats who put party before the interests of their people.
My astonishment with his philosophy was so compelling that I listened in awe instead of writing down notes.
I mentioned that unusual circmstance to explain why this column is short of quotes.
Instead, I’m paraphrasing, even though I could have taken quotes from the interview he participated in moments later with with my favorite talk show host, Sherwin Hughes. (For the record, Dr. Ken Harris is second.)
Or, I could have pulled several quotes from interviews Mitchell has done with PBS, for a urban news service, and press conferences posted on his website.
Google his name and avail yourself of those options. I’m sure you’ll be as impressed as I was.
Collectively, they paint a portrait of a brother whose life journey was obviously directed by Nyame (God).
Indeed, it is a journey that starts with his being recruited by instructors of a small Texas college–Jarvis Christian— for admission because of his ‘promise,’ to his stint at the prestigious Morehouse College.
His graduation from that historically Black institution is all the more impressive because he found himself homeless during his senior year.
Again, one could surmise God intervened, as congregants of an Atlanta church took him under their wing and allowed him to sleep in their parish.
Sleeping on a hard pallet brought clarity and purpose and sparked his decision to pursue a master’s degree in theology at Princeton.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Law school followed, as well as a pastoral position at a prominent Madison Baptist church.
Further evidence of his commitment to the poor is evidenced as ‘Assistant DA’ Mitchell spent his free time providing pro-bono legal services to the poor.
Those experiences prepared him for the Dane County circuit courts, where he quickly climbed the ladder to his current position as chief judge of that judicial body.
They also motivated him to create a unique judicial paradigm through which juvenile delinquents were treated not as unredeemable criminals but, when appropriate, as youth who veered off the path and were as much in need of direction as they were in need of discipline.
It started with a decision by Judge Mitchell to take the handcuffs off offenders during their trial, a simple but humanistic approach to humanize their judicial journey.
While not considered a ‘liberal’ judge, Mitchell provided a fair but open hand, offering defendants pathways to redemption.
His strategies, consistent with his community work, revolutionized the courts and were instrumental in a 48% case reduction rate. And in case you think his policies were taken for granted, one quote I did right down was his proud declaration that “80% do not return to my court. We’ve tackled (recidivism) and found that, as Frederick Douglass said, if you focus on building individuals at the front end.”
Judge Mitchell’s criminal justice philosophy may be an anomaly, even for the erroneously labeled liberal state capitol, but It has elicited community-wide support.
That fact is best illuminated by the steady flow of awards he has received in recent years, including the Dane Community Justice Award and the Dane County Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award.
Whether his impressive resume (including his community service accomplishment, which includes 20 listed achievements) will translate into votes in two weeks is another matter.
In the February 21 primary, he will face two conservatives and the other ‘liberal’ candidate, who has not only amassed an unprecedentedly large war chest, but is a White woman to boot.
And that’s not to disparage her ethnicity, but to acknowledge Milwaukee Judge Janet Protswiewiz is ‘more appealing’ to some special interests within the liberal establishment, because of the national and state focus on abortion rights.
Moreover, given the racial and political history of the state (a recent study showed Wisconsin at the lower end of the racial equity spectrum), Protasiewicz’s complexion (she’s four shades lighter than Mitchell) is an added advantage.
There was a time when being a ‘man of the cloth’ would provide extra ‘brownie’ points. But that was before the liberal/missionary establishment (and the Democratic Party) outlawed Old Testament tenets.
The top two winners of the four-way primary (ultra-conservatives Dan Kelly and Waukesha county Judge Jennifer Dorow are on the ballot) will face off in the April general election.
It is assumed that the general election will pit a Democrat against a Republican even though the state’s highest court is supposedly a non-partisan race (“liberal and conservative today is a synonym for Democrat or Republican,” Judge Everett explained.)
The spring election will fill the remaining two years of retiring Justice Patience Roggensack’s term. Her presence on the seven-member court swayed the balance toward conservatism.
Interestingly, only one man is on the court, promoting the theory that it is an exclusive women’s club.
As of mid-January, Protasiewicz had raised twice as much in donations as the second-place candidate, Kelly (a former justice), $750,00 to $307,000).
Most of her war chest came from contributions from women and far-left special interests, who obviously are framing the election around abortion.
Her campaign treasury does not include third-party advertising, including a $900,000 ad buy by Better Wisconsin Together, a progressive group.
Because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal last year of Roe vs. Wade, Wisconsin is currently operating on a century-old prohibition against abortion. Thus, the future of women’s right to control their bodies in Wisconsin will be determined by a Republican legislature and a liberal governor. And then the state supreme court.
Indeed, abortion seems to be the only issue highlighted by the Protasiewicz campaign. The ‘threat’ to abortion rights is the only concern expressed in her advertising on television, radio, and print media. Or, I should say, ‘White media.’
To that paradigm, Judge Mitchell is quick to point out that he shares his liberal opponent’s position on women’s rights, but abortion should not, and is not, the only issue voters should be paying attention to.
Legislative redistricting, as well as restrictions on civil and voting rights and the future of educational options for the poor, will also be tested in the coming years.
And on those issues, Mitchell makes a compelling argument that he is by far a stronger candidate, which is not to conflict with the unique experiences and cultural background he brings to the bench.
“This election, in a sense, is about two races,” he explained, “two tiers. There is abortion, but there are several other issues that will impact (our state and the Black community). And in that regard, my community service and resume provide that I am a much more (complete) candidate.”
On that point, there can be little doubt, particularly since his liberal opponent has ignored other issues, including the most critical to Black Milwaukeeans: school choice.
Interestingly, I learned Tuesday that Protasiewicz has refused to participate in debates with Mitchell. When asked to participate in a local debate this Saturday at Turner Hall, she reportedly asked that a short video be shown instead. The coordinators found that request disconcerting and refused to accommodate her request.
That reluctance may be tied to an assumption that Mitchell will win the Black vote and the army of educational option proponents.
Without explicitly endorsing school choice, Judge Mitchell revealed he had an epiphany about educational options while recently visiting the Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy.
Listening to parents who explained their decisions to choose charter schools over failing government offerings impacted him.
He contrasted those discussions with recent revelations (actually not so new) that Milwaukee public schools host the widest academic achievement gap in the country, which prompted Mitchell to assert, “I would never stand in the way of a parent’s right to choose what is best for their children.”
Faced with dwindling time before his scheduled radio interview, Judge Mitchell and I spent the last few minutes discussing Wisconsin’s racial climate and whether being a Black candidate for a statewide office would hinder him.
The court race is taking place a few months after former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes’ unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate.
Was the turnout a precursor for the spring race?
Neither of us supports that theory, even though the only other attemptfor an African American to be elected to the court fell short. Butler wasappointed to the court by former Governor Jim Doyle in 2008.
Interestingly, both Barnes and former Justice Louis Butler’s last attemptfor statewide office was marred by racism.
In both cases, darkened photos of the two men were circulated up north to promote century-old prejudices against ‘intimidating and aggressive’Black men. Both candidates were also linked to liberal policies on crimeand policing.
While Mitchell and I disagreed on the impact of racism in the Barnesrace, we agreed the cancer of racism continues to invade the political bodyin Wisconsin.
But, as Mitchell also lamented, “this is also the state that twice supported Barack Obama.”
The Madison judge said he has been warmly accepted throughout thestate while campaigning during the last year.
Moreover, “Wisconsin has a history of being progressive on ideals andhaving values that differentiate between color and character,” he surmised
“I learned that most folks are in the middle (politically) and want to beheard. They want to feel their issues (beyond political platforms) are being addressed.”
To his benefit, I noted that Barnes’ defeat would more readily be linkedto his decision to follow the Hillary Clinton strategy to take the AfricanAmerican vote for granted. It is assumed that tactic was rooted in his dichotomous position on school choice and his unwillingness to addressthat concern.
Several Black leaders and radio talk show hosts questioned his opposition to school choice despite its appeal to most Black Milwaukeeans.
They also called into question his advertisements describing himself asthe offspring of a public school teacher without acknowledging his parents sent him to a private, sectarian school, where his mother later taught.
Barnes obviously put his party before the people, and it cost him.
Judge Micthell, however, may be hindered by subscribing to the opposite paradigm.
While the long-held belief that African Americans are politically liberalbut socially conservative aptly fits Judge Mitchell, his philosophy isrooted in a pragmatic political foundation reinforced with Christian cement. And that philosophy may put him at odds with the Democratic Party,which has moved further left.Either way, the bottom line is the Black votewill be crucial in determining the outcome of the February 21 primary election and whether we contribute to a new page in the Black Historybooks or close the chapter on a sour note.
Those who follow me know of my slogan that if all things are equal,’always vote Black.’ However, that point is irrelevant in this case as Mitchell is by far the best candidate, not only for us, but the state.
His judicial philosophy, community activism, and personal journey addressing poverty, inequities, and injustice (Just-Us) are compelling.
Thus, this election leaves us with the unique opportunity to promoteBlack history this month as well as make it by electing the first AfricanAmerican to the state’s highest court.
And, as Mitchell informed me, there is another impetus for Black voters.
“The general election falls on the day civil rights icon Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr. was assassinated.
Judge Reverend Everett Mitchell’s quest to make history could be thehighlight of Black History Month. And homage to Douglass and King aswell.
And oh yes, one final revelation: One month after I posted it on social media, Judge Everett Mitchell revealed his favorite King decreewas his ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail.’
You gotta love the brother.
Hotep.
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