Los Angeles Times - 25.08.2019

LATIMES.COM WST SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019A

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s
criminal justice system
would be “overwhelmed” if
the U.S. Supreme Court
rules in an upcoming case
that nonunanimous jury
verdicts are unconstitu-
tional, the state’s attorney
general has told the court.
Atty. Gen. Ellen Rosen-
blum said in an amicus brief
Friday that such a ruling
could invalidate hundreds
or even thousands of convic-
tions in Oregon.
Oregon is the only state
in the U.S. allowing 11-1 or 10-
jury verdicts in criminal tri-
als, except first-degree mur-
der convictions.
Critics say Rosenblum is
defending a system that
should be abandoned, as
voters in Louisiana, the only
other state that permitted
nonunanimous verdicts, did
in 2018.
“The state’s brief pre-
sents a parade of horribles
that may or may not come to
pass. However, that is not a
reason to continue a prac-
tice rooted in racial and eth-
nic discrimination,” said
Marc Brown, a public de-
fender in Oregon whose cli-
ents include ones appealing
nonunanimous guilty ver-
dicts.
The decision by Louisi-
ana voters was not retroac-
tive, and took effect Jan. 1.
The U.S. Supreme Court
this fall will hear the case of
Evangelisto Ramos, a Loui-
siana man convicted by a
nonunanimous jury in 2016 of
second-degree murder of a
woman in New Orleans.
Ramos is serving a life sen-
tence with no chance of par-
ole.
Michael Kron, special
counsel to Oregon’s attorney
general, said that if the
Supreme Court rules in fa-
vor of Ramos, it would be re-
versing its 1972 ruling that
the Constitution does not
bar states from allowing
nonunanimous verdicts.
Rosenblum told the high
court that if it overturns that
ruling and decides that
nonunanimous juries are

unconstitutional, Oregon’s

criminal justice system will

be glutted.

“Such a ruling would

automatically require retrial

in many hundreds, if not

thousands, of cases on di-

rect review,” Rosenblum

told the court.

Even convictions that

were unanimous could be

called into question, be-

cause a judge instructing

jurors that they could reach

a nonunanimous verdict

may be grounds for an ap-

peal.

“In many cases, particu-

larly the older cases, retrial

will likely be impossible be-

cause of the impact that the

passage of time will have on

the prosecution’s case as

witnesses disappear, memo-

ries fade, and evidence is

lost,” the attorney general

wrote.

Several Oregon lawmak-

ers recently sponsored a res-

olution calling for a ballot

measure to repeal an

amendment to the state

constitution allowing non-

unanimous verdicts. The

resolution passed the House

unanimously, but died in the

Senate amid a walkout by

Republican members in the

final days of the legislative

session.

The decision by Oregon

voters in 1934 to allow split-

jury verdicts was fueled by

white supremacy and anti-

immigrant sentiment. One

newspaper said immigrants

from southern and Eastern

Europe had made the re-

quirement for unanimous

verdicts “unwieldy and un-

satisfactory.”

Rosenblum said she sup-

ports a repeal, noting the

jury rule’s links to racism

and anti-Semitism. But she

said such a change should be

for cases “going forward,”

not applied retroactively.

Aliza Kaplan, a professor

at Portland’s Lewis & Clark

Law School who has cam-

paigned to eliminate non-

unanimous jury verdicts,

said only dozens — not

hundreds — of cases would

be affected by a Supreme

Court ruling in favor of

Ramos.

“The attorney general

has an opportunity to be on

the correct side of history

and champion getting rid of

nonunanimous juries,” Kap-

lan said in a telephone inter-

view. “Instead, she chooses

to support a policy that we

all know, and that she ac-

knowledges, comes from our

racist history.”

Brown, the public de-

fender, said he doubts a

Supreme Court ruling would

create a crisis for the state’s

judicial system. Oregon’s ap-

peals courts would deter-

mine its retroactive applica-

tion “by applying well-

known legal standards.”

“Our courts are certainly

up to that task,” he said.

Oregon asks high court

to uphold split verdicts

STATE ATTY. GEN.Ellen Rosenblum says finding

nonunanimous verdicts unconstitutional would mean

“many hundreds, if not thousands” of new trials.

Thomas Patterson(Salem) Statesman Journal

associated press

So-Cal Contractor Proves Combining

Speed & Quality is Possible

E

xpect a nightmare. It will cost twice as much

and take three times as long.” It’s an

all-too-common warning — dare we say,

prediction—of events to come from friends and

family members who have braved the storms and

lived to tell their tales of remodeling crusades gone

awry. What at first glance appears to be simple, or at

least achievable home remodeling projects, can often

take a sudden turn. Project ‘budgets’ transform into

mere starting points as costs begin to stack on top of

one another, and timelines are extended week after

week – all while you’re left to live in a war zone that

once resembled your lovely home.

Enter the tug-of-war between speed and quality:

Where having both is mere fantasy, and one must

ultimately suffer. Matt Plaskoff wasn’t buying it.

“There had to be a better way,” he said. After

working in the construction industry for years and

seeing the chaotic state it was operating in, it was

clear the process could be much more efficient for

both the contractors and the clients involved.

Known for his work as the lead construction

consultant on ABC’s hit reality TV Show, Extreme

Makeover: Home Edition, Plaskoff took his years of

high-end home building experience and created an

all-in-one solution for custom bathroom design &

construction.

That’s when One Week Bath was born. The

business model was simple: NO SURPRISES. Every

single item for the project is included in the contract

from the get-go.

Today, this Southern California company has over

3,500 bathroom remodels under its belt, it has

completely revolutionized the bathroom remodel

process with no signs of slowing.

What sets One Week Bath’s innovative business

model apart from virtually all other bathroom

remodelers is in the design phase. Plaskoff says,

“Typically, a designer only designs, and a contractor

only builds. We design the bathrooms we build and

build the bathrooms we design.”

Clients will notice right away that OWB’s

approach to design is very different than most others in

the space.

Going with a typical contractor does not

guarantee a high-quality remodeling service nor their

ability to perform with both speed and excellence.

With OWB, you receive the entire package wrapped in

one large gift box.

• Custom in-home design


• Project materials, hardware, fixtures, and permits


• No sudden or hidden price charges - you always pay
  the price on your contract


• Professional and experienced crew with an onsite
  project manager
  
  
  • No subcontractors - you see the same team through
    the entire process
  
  
  • No unexpected delays due to poor planning
  
  
  • A clean, organized, safe, and orderly job site with
    minimal life interruption
  
  
  • Stress-free and friendly remodeling experience
  
  
  
  

OWB offers you the following services that a typical contractor may or may not offer:

Plaskoffin a recent interview: “I knew there had to be

a way to streamline the entire process, set accurate

expectations from the beginning and keep our promises.

I wanted to give homeowners the bathroom of their

dreams with quality materials in a relatively short time

so it didn’t greatly interfere with their life, but also be

able to do it at a fantastic price.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Apply Today!

Call (866) 775.

http://www.lfcu.com

Logix Federal Credit Union, proudly serving members since 1937.

Starts Low.

Stays Low.

No Closing Costs or Annual Fees

Low.

or AnnualFees

Rate as low as Prime +.49% (current APR 5.74%)

There’s never been a better time to start your home

improvement project.

SAVE WITH LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS

Loan Amount $25,000 $50,000 $100,

Monthly Payment $62 $125 $

Interest-only minimum monthly payments based on Intro 2.99% APR.Making interest-only payments will result in a balloon

payment at maturity. Larger payments may be made at any time.

What’s more, Logix is one of the safest, strongest credit unions

in the country. So get the credit you deserve from the

place you can trust.

INTRO RATE FOR 12 MONTHS

HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT

The Logix PrimeLine Home Equity Line of Credit is an adjustable rate loan. The Introductory Discounted 2.99% APR (2.99% APR Intro Rate) is fixed for thefirst

12 months (365 days) after which the rate converts to the then current Prime Rate (the Index) plus your Margin and is then variable and subject to change.The

PrimeLine Variable-Rate Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) current 5.74% APR, which is accurate as of 8/1/19 and is subject to change, is our best rate based

on creditworthiness, credit score, and maximum combined loan-to-value (CLTV) of 70%. The rate is variable, is subject to change monthly, and may increase after

consummation. Maximum APR 18%. The HELOC term is 15 years. Minimum interest-only monthly payment results in a Balloon payment at maturity. Minimum credit

limit is $25,000; Maximum $500,000. Property Insurance and a lien is required on the subject property. No closing costs if credit limit is $250,000 or less and HELOC

is not closed within the first 36 months. Closing costs on credit limits in excess of $250,000 range from $1,500 to $2,000 based on amount borrowed. Attorney’s fees

apply in MD, VA, NH, ME and MA and range from $300 to $700. Additional state-related taxes and fees may apply. Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility

of interest. The PrimeLine Variable-Rate Home Equity Line of Credit is available only on owner-occupied properties located in CA, MD, NV, NH, VA, MA and ME.

The 2.99% APR Intro Rate is not available on the Logix 80/10/10 mortgage loan program. APR = Annual Percentage Rate.

Logix membership required. NMLS ID 503781

There’s a Logix Branch in Your Neighborhood

Santa Clarita Valley San Fernando Valley Conejo/Simi Valleys San Gabriel/Antelope Valleys

Bridgeport • (855) 564.4914 Burbank • (866) 350.5328 Newbury Park • (877) 944.5328 Palmdale • (855) 564.

Golden Valley • (866) 786.5328 Chatsworth • (866) 740.5328 Simi-Cochran St • (888) 738.5328 Pasadena • (855) 564.

Stevenson Ranch • (855) 564.4918 Porter Ranch • (866) 788.5328 Simi-Tapo Cyn • (877) 974.

Valencia Bouquet Cyn • (855) 564.4919 Tarzana • (855) 564.4917 Thousand Oaks • (877) 964.

Valencia Promenade • (866) 748.5328 Woodland Hills • (855) 564.4916 Westlake Village • (866) 400.