Last week, as reported by the Connecticut Law Tribune, Chief Justice Richard Robinson of the Connecticut Supreme Court authored a thoughtful and inspiring letter offering his perspective on racial injustice following recent events across the country. The chief justice cited the need “for real and immediate improvement” of an inequitable justice system that disparately impacts “the most vulnerable” among us. Former state Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Policy Mike Lawlor, in an op-ed in The Hartford Courant, offered three fine suggestions for criminal justice reform for the judicial branch’s consideration in light of Robinson’s statement, including vacating certain rearrest orders, substantially reducing bail and mandating prosecutorial review before cases are docketed.

As a civil rights and criminal defense practitioner in Connecticut, I propose an even simpler measure that can be implemented immediately and at no cost, yet help gain traction toward the goal of improving an already lopsided system while more comprehensive reform takes shape: It’s time to grant all criminal defendants the right to waive all nonessential appearances before the court when represented by counsel.

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