POPULAR Integrity Awards Reinstituted, Focusing Again On America’s Judiciary

• 

Judge Katherine B. Forrest, A 2012 RIA Recipient

Since its Restore Integrity Awards (RIA) began in 2009, POPULAR has recognized a wide array of public and private sector heroes who help make the war on corruption real in America.

Crown Point, Indiana (PRWEB) June 28, 2012

Due to corporate reorganizing, the national grassroots legal reform organization known as POPULAR, skipped issuing its December 2011 Restore Integrity Awards (RIA). POPULAR is an acronym for "Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored". George Stokes, Sr., the group’s National Program Chair and co-administrator of its RIA program remarked, “I regretted having to forego our last year-end awards because the program is -- pardon my pun -- quite popular.” Dr. Andrew D. Jackson, a POPULAR Co-Administrator, chimed in, “(f)ortunately June 2012 marks the re-emergence of our RIA. Once again the awards spotlight America’s judiciary; U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest is our first recipient.”

“All of POPULAR’s award recipients have taken or otherwise pursued one or more specific acts or measures to eliminate significant inequity, waste, fraud, abuse, or other public and/or private sector corruption in America” according to Mr. Stokes. He adds, “POPULAR defines corruption as any illegal or unethical conduct contributing to the systemic malfunction of government, commerce, and/or democracy in America as contemplated by the U.S. Constitution.”

“With the exception of last year, POPULAR’s RIA are awarded bi-annually in the categories of public sector, private sector, and/or grassroots advocacy” according to Dr. Jackson. He notes, “(s)ince the awards program began in 2009, POPULAR has recognized a wide array of public and private sector heroes who help make the war on corruption real in America.”

POPULAR’s mid-year RIA recipients for 2012 are as follows:

Public Sector Category:

• The Honorable Katherine B. Forrest, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, for being at the forefront of advancing due process considerations in national security contexts;
• Tennessee Senator Mike Faulk (R-Church Hill), for sponsoring SB 2671 which spearheaded the dismantling of Tennessee’s Court of the Judiciary and prompted the state’s shift to more inclusive, balanced, judicial oversight; and
• Maryland Delegates Michael J. Hough (R-District 3B), Kathy Afzali (R-District 4A), Michael A. McDermott (R-District 38B), Neil Parrott (R-District 2B), and Justin Ready (R-District 5A), for co-sponsoring HB 1061, proposing an amendment of Maryland’s Constitution and a corresponding shift of the state to more inclusive, balanced, and comprehensive judicial oversight.

POPULAR will mail all of its mid-year RIA recipients an encased certificate, commemorating their award. To the extent possible, they were personally notified of and congratulated for receiving the award prior to this public announcement. POPULAR will announce its next round of award recipients in December 2012.

POPULAR (Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored) is a good government advocate committed to helping poor and other disadvantaged people access affordable and competent legal representation, appropriate judicial oversight, and important civil and criminal justice system reforms. To learn more, visit: http://www.popular4people.org

PDF Print