Franklin Bynum's guest appearances

Franklin Bynum

Millennial Politics Podcast

Left Anchor

Next Left

David Duhalde

Abdul El-Sayed

Pramila Jayapal

Donald Trump

Bernie Sanders

Pete Buttigieg

Chesa Boudin

Ilhan Omar

Rashida Tlaib

Chris Harris

Clarence Thomas

Elizabeth Warren

Meena Krishnamurthy

Kim Olson

Jamelle Bouie

OwlTail

Bryan LaVergne

Harris County (home of Houston, Texas) recently entered into a consent decree to overhaul the cash bail process in its courts -- which among other things makes it much harder to lock up poor people for minor offenses. Famed Judge of the Harris County Criminal Court No. 8 Franklin Bynum joins us for the second time, together with his friend, adviser, and fellow organizer Bryan LaVergne, to tell us what it all means and what being a judge is like after 6 months on the bench. Watch Franklin give a speech advocating for the consent degree here.

Harris County (home of Houston, Texas) recently <a href="https://ktrh.iheart.com/content/2019-07-30-harris-county-commissioners-approve-historic-agreement-consent/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">entered into a consent decree</a> to overhaul the cash bail process in its courts -- which among other things makes it much harder to lock up poor people for minor offenses. Famed Judge of the Harris County Criminal Court No. 8 <a href="https://twitter.com/franklinbynum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Franklin Bynum</a> joins us for the <a href="https://leftanchor.podbean.com/e/episode-18-interview-with-franklinbynum/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">second time</a>, together with his friend, adviser, and fellow organizer <a href="https://twitter.com/bryanlavergne" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bryan LaVergne</a>, to tell us what it all means and what being a judge is like after 6 months on the bench. Watch Franklin give a speech advocating for the consent degree <a href="https://youtu.be/xGdt8gX3z34" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

Episode 84 - Being a Socialist Judge with Franklin Bynum and Bryan LaVergne

Franklin Bynum is a judge. Sometimes, he even wears the black robes associated with the job. But the title and the robes don't begin to tell his story. What distinguishes Bynum, a 37-year-old democratic socialist from Houston, Texas, who was elected last fall to serve on the Harris County Criminal Court bench, is his determination to unravel and replace the "oppressive punishment bureaucracies" that define our criminal justice system.    An able lawyer, who has served as a public defender and a defense attorney, he knows his way around the courts and the jails of Texas. And Bynum has reached the logical conclusion, as his Twitter profile announces, that "people need care not cages."    Bynum ran for a court post last year, mounting a campaign that proposed radical reforms. He framed his advocacy with facts, figures and humanity. It was so impressive that the conservative Houston Chronicle newspaper endorsed Bynum, along with the local chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, and he won along with a group  of progressive jurists who promised to make real the promise of justice.    Bynum's now on the bench and he has already taken the lead in proposing dramatic changes that would end the cash-bail system and other abuses. He's our guest this week for a exciting conversation on Next Left.    SHOW NOTES  A Socialist in Every District Jacobin  Nathan J. Robinson  Democratic Socialist Franklin Bynum is ready to get to work on the Harris County bench Houston Chronicle Erica Greider  For County Criminal Court No. 8: Franklin Bynum Houston Chronicle Editorial Board  At Least 17 Democratic Socialists Seek Office in Texas Texas Observer Gus Bova  What is Prison Abolition? The Nation John Washington  The End of Policing Alex S. Vitale   Group Therapy Above &amp; Beyond   You’re Gonna Miss Me 13th Floor Elevators

Franklin Bynum is a judge. Sometimes, he even wears the black robes associated with the job. But the title and the robes don't begin to tell his story. What distinguishes Bynum, a 37-year-old democratic socialist from Houston, Texas, who was elected last fall to serve on the Harris County Criminal Court bench, is his determination to unravel and replace the "oppressive punishment bureaucracies" that define our criminal justice system. An able lawyer, who has served as a public defender and a defense attorney, he knows his way around the courts and the jails of Texas. And Bynum has reached the logical conclusion, as his Twitter profile announces, that "people need care not cages." Bynum ran for a court post last year, mounting a campaign that proposed radical reforms. He framed his advocacy with facts, figures and humanity. It was so impressive that the conservative Houston Chronicle newspaper endorsed Bynum, along with the local chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, and he won along with a group  of progressive jurists who promised to make real the promise of justice. Bynum's now on the bench and he has already taken the lead in proposing dramatic changes that would end the cash-bail system and other abuses. He's our guest this week for a exciting conversation on Next Left. SHOW NOTES <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/01/socialists-elections-2020-bernie-sanders" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Socialist in Every District</a> Jacobin  Nathan J. Robinson <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/grieder/article/Democratic-Socialist-Franklin-Bynum-is-ready-to-13435032.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Democratic Socialist Franklin Bynum is ready to get to work on the Harris County bench</a> Houston Chronicle Erica Greider <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/judge-reacts-to-police-chiefs-criticism-of-low-bonds-in-harris-county/285-bfd8d9aa-138f-4635-b216-76e94c07c25c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">For County Criminal Court No. 8: Franklin Bynum</a> Houston Chronicle Editorial Board <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/judge-reacts-to-police-chiefs-criticism-of-low-bonds-in-harris-county/285-bfd8d9aa-138f-4635-b216-76e94c07c25c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">At Least 17 Democratic Socialists Seek Office in Texas</a> Texas Observer Gus Bova <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/what-is-prison-abolition/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What is Prison Abolition?</a> The Nation John Washington <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/2426-the-end-of-policing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The End of Policing</a> Alex S. Vitale <a href="https://www.aboveandbeyond.nu/radio/abgt335" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Group Therapy</a> Above &amp; Beyond <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OytJYBfwUk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> You’re Gonna Miss Me</a> 13th Floor Elevators

7: Franklin Bynum Is a Texas Judge Who Wants to Abolish Prisons

Democratic socialist Franklin Bynum is ready to bring radical change to the judicial system as a Harris County Criminal Court Judge.

Meet Franklin Bynum, Harris County's Democratic Socialist Judge