News / FJP Releases

May 21, 2025

Fair and Just Prosecution Condemns Politically-Motivated Weaponization of Trump DOJ Against NJ Congresswoman LaMonica McIver

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the Trump Administration abusing its prosecutorial power by bringing criminal assault charges against New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver after she exercised her Constitutional authority and duty as a member of Congress to conduct oversight on issues that affect the American public, including her constituents. Congresswoman McIver and other members of Congress were on-site in Newark, New Jersey, as part of their lawful right to inspect conditions in a federal immigration detention facility. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba charged Rep. McIver with “assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement” after the Congresswoman and other Representatives were attempting to monitor the arrest of Newark Mayor Baraka by armed federal agents.

FJP Executive Director Aramis Ayala Released the Following Statement in Response to the Trump Administration’s Prosecution of Rep. LaMonica McIver:

“The Supreme Court has affirmed that public trust in the criminal justice system is critical for both public safety and the rule of law. To ensure public trust, prosecutors must swear an oath to the Constitution that they will ensure equal justice for all by enforcing the law fairly and without bias or political motivation. The Trump Department of Justice, however, has made a mockery of that oath, undermined public trust, and abandoned all appearance of objectivity by abusing its prosecutorial power through a pattern of charging or threatening to charge President Trump’s political opponents in an attempt to negate the constitutional checks and balances that safeguard our democracy. With this most recent move of bringing unsupported and politically motivated charges against a duly-elected, sitting member of a co-equal branch of government who was fulfilling her official duty to the American people, the Trump Administration is careening toward authoritarianism, in which his loyal DOJ prosecutors would be unconstrained from prosecuting anyone who disagrees with him.

April 25, 2025

Fair and Just Prosecution Condemns Unlawful DOJ Grant Cuts for Victim Services

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) reckless and unlawful decision to eliminate over 350 DOJ Office of Justice Programs grants providing technical assistance and support to both local law enforcement and victims of crime.  

FJP Executive Director Aramis Ayala Released the Following Statement in Response to the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Cuts to Grant Funding:

“The Trump Administration is severely undermining both public safety and the rule of law with these dangerous, cruel, and completely unlawful cuts to local law enforcement – including local prosecutors – as well as to services that support survivors of crimes like domestic violence or sexual assault. These actions will leave many of the most vulnerable members of our society, especially children, completely cut off from essential resources and support. What’s more, terminating over 350 federal awards in a single day does not reflect the individualized decision-making required by 2 CFR 200.340(a)(4), the law for terminating federal awards. Therefore, the cuts have the appearance targeting specific jurisdictions and organizations for political purposes – a clear indication that the Administration has acted in ways that are both arbitrary and capricious.

April 17, 2025

Fair and Just Prosecution Names Civil Rights Advocate and Former Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala as New Executive Director

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) is proud to announce that Aramis Ayala, a leading civil rights advocate and former elected prosecutor has been named its new Executive Director following a national search process. Ayala brings extensive experience, a deep commitment to equity, and a focus on supporting prosecutors working to build safer communities.

“Now more than ever, prosecutors are on the front lines in the fight for justice, defending constitutional rights, protecting our communities, and standing up to attacks on the rule of law,” said FJP Executive Director Aramis Ayala. “FJP is here to back them up with the resources, access to experts, and technical assistance they need to reduce mass incarceration, protect civil rights, promote racial justice, and fight back against efforts to strip local leaders of their power to create real, community-driven change.”  

April 14, 2025

Fair and Just Prosecution Urges Supreme Court: Don’t Let Technicalities Keep People Behind Bars

Today, Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) and four other organizations submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Bowe v. United States, urging the Court to ensure that people have a meaningful opportunity to challenge their convictions.

FJP Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig Released the Following Statement on the Case:

“Public safety depends on a justice system people can trust — one that’s grounded in truth, fairness, and accountability. That trust breaks down when courts leave people behind bars for arbitrary and fundamentally unjust reasons. Michael Bowe is currently in prison based on a classification that no longer applies to his convictions, yet the Eleventh Circuit won’t even let him argue for his freedom. A justice system that keeps any person unlawfully in prison due to its refusal to correct past mistakes is a broken system.”

April 7, 2025

FJP Statement on Tomorrow’s Scheduled Execution of Michael Tanzi

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the upcoming execution of Michael Tanzi in Florida, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection tomorrow, Tuesday, April 8th at 6 P.M. EST. Florida’s three-drug lethal injection protocol has drawn sharp criticism for using etomidate—an anesthetic linked to involuntary movements and pain—as its first drug, making it the only state to do so and raising Eighth Amendment concerns about cruel and unusual punishment. Mr. Tanzi’s defense team has argued that Florida’s lethal injection protocols do not take into account Mr. Tanzi’s medical conditions—obesity and chronic sciatica—and will cause ‘serious illness and needless suffering.’

Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement ahead of Florida’s planned execution on Tuesday:

“Barring last-minute intervention, the state of Florida will execute Mr. Tanzi with lethal injection tomorrow. State-sanctioned killing in Florida is not justice—it is cruelty cloaked in the language of ‘justice.’ As the only state using the controversial sedative etomidate, Florida is knowingly inflicting inhumane and unconscionable levels of pain and suffering. In the case of Mr. Tanzi, that cruelty is compounded by a glaring disregard for his documented medical conditions and history of childhood trauma. Despite urgent pleas for mercy from Mr. Tanzi’s defense team and moral leaders such as Catholic Bishop Michael Sheedy, the state continues to press forward with his execution. Florida can and must do better. The execution of Mr. Tanzi is not justice—it is a moral failure and a lasting stain on the state of Florida. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of both Michael Tanzi and his victims, Janet Acosta and Caroline Holder.”