A Washington, D.C. judge, Lloyd U. Nolan, Jr., released an 18-year-old accused of firing over two dozen rounds at a car full of people on bail. Nolan has a social media presence filled with progressive activism and has financial links to progressive donor George Soros. His online presence includes posts supporting Black Lives Matter and a donation to a fundraiser supported by Soros. One post shows he donated to Gideon’s Promise, a group founded through a fellowship from the Open Society Foundation. Nolan approved house arrest with a GPS monitor for the accused teen, Amonte Moody, despite the serious charges.
Rapping, a professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, founded Gideon’s Promise in 2017 with the support of Soros’ Open Society Foundation. The group is dedicated to training and supporting public defenders across the Southeastern United States in providing equal justice for all in the criminal justice arena. Public defenders play a critical role in systemic criminal justice reform, and Gideon’s Promise aims to support them at every career level to produce fairer outcomes for vulnerable citizens. The decision to release Moody on house arrest with a GPS monitor outraged many, and prosecutors requested an emergency hearing to potentially reverse the decision.
Nolan concluded that Moody was not a threat to the community and met the conditions for release on house arrest. The decision was made after arguments from both sides were heard, and Nolan determined that strict conditions could ensure the safety of the defendant and the public. The defense heavily relied on the fact that Moody had no prior encounters with law enforcement and was provided with educational support and family and community resources. Nolan conducted a thorough hearing and directly spoke with the defendant about the consequences of violating any portion of the release conditions. The spokesperson for the D.C. court system reiterated that all defendants have a presumption of innocence.
The decision to release a teenager accused of firing a weapon on a busy street has sparked controversy, particularly due to the seriousness of the charges. Social media users criticized the judge for releasing Moody on house arrest despite the evidence against him. The prosecutors raised concerns about the strength of the case, including video evidence and identifications of the defendant as the shooter. The government presented evidence that Moody fired an AR-15 weapon approximately 26 times at a car driving away on a public street and then hid the firearm in a ceiling.
Following the release of Moody, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. requested an emergency hearing to discuss the matter and potentially reverse the decision. The judge, Lloyd U. Nolan, Jr., came under scrutiny for his decision to release the accused teen despite the serious charges. Nolan’s social media posts and financial links to progressive donors have raised questions about his impartiality in the case. The case has reignited debates about the criminal justice system, bail decisions, and the role of judges in ensuring public safety while upholding justice and fairness for all involved.
