Deborah Ross' "Unsuccessful" Attempt to Spin ACLU Career | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC - For months Deborah Ross tried her very best to keep her dangerous ACLU record off the radar, and now she is now desperately trying to rewrite her history of putting the interests of convicted criminals ahead of the well being of North Carolinians.

    After struggling for weeks to defend her opposition to the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry-relying on personal friends to try obfuscate her actions-Ross is now having to defend her central role in a "gruesome" sexual assault case, first reported by CNN, in which she argued the offender "attempted unsuccessfully" to rape the victim. The problem for Ross' team and her liberal allies is these are Ross' own words, on the record, and her intent was clear.

    FALSE CLAIM #1: Ross Fully Understood The Severity Of Andre Green's Crime

    TRUTH: Ross Called Green's Crime An "Unsuccessful" Rape Attempt. "In her amicus brief to the state Supreme Court, Ross contended that Green came from a broken home, had no criminal past and had a very low IQ -- and would benefit from years of rehabilitation through the juvenile system. The brief argued that Green 'unsuccessfully' attempted to rape the victim." (Manu Raju, "N.C. Senate Candidate Sought Leniency For Teen Convicted Of Sexual Assault," CNN, 10/8/16)

    FALSE CLAIM #2: Ross Wanted To Challenge Whether It Would Be Unjust To Hand Down A Life Sentence To Andre Green

    TRUTH: Ross Wanted To Remand Green To The Juvenile Justice System, Which Would've Allowed Him To Be Back On The Streets In Three Years.

    · RECORDS: In A December 1996 Memo, Ross Argued That Andre Green Should Be Tried In The Juvenile Justice System So He "Could Receive Three Years Of Treatment." "Finally, Andre Green will be eligible for parole in 25 years. Without the appropriate treatment, he will reenter society at age 38 having learned everything he knows about sex in prison. If he goes into the juvenile system, he still could receive three years of treatment."

    FALSE CLAIM #3: Deborah Ross Wasn't Involved With The Actual Defense Of Andre Green

    TRUTH: In A 1996 Memo, Ross Said She Directly "Assisted The Appellate Defenders Office With The Section Of The Brief Challenging The Transfer Of Andre Green's Case From Juvenile Court To Superior Court..."

    · RECORDS: A December 1996 Memo Shows That Ross Worked Directly With Andre Green's Counsel On Crafting His Defense. "On November 5, 1996, the Court of Appeals unanimously declined to reverse the conviction of 13 year old Andre Green for first-degree sexual offense, first-degree burglary and attempted first-degree rape. Because the Court of Appeals would not let us file an amicus brief, we assisted the Appellate Defender's Office with the section of the brief challenging the transfer of Andre Green's case from juvenile court to Superior Court under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-610, which was amended by the Legislature in 1994 to allow for the transfer of 13 year olds to adult court. We argued that the law violates due process because it does not require the court to make specific findings about whether the best interest of the State of the juvenile would be served by the transfer, and the statute does not require the court to balance those finding in making its ruling."

    NOTE: Lisa Angel, Who Provided A Statement On Ross' Behalf, Is A Ross Donor And Personal Friend

    According To The Center For Responsive Politics, Divorce Attorney Lisa Angel Has Donated $250 To Ross' US Senate Campaign. (Center For Responsive Politics, Accessed 10/11/16)

    Lisa Angel And Deborah Ross Are Friends On Facebook.

• Contact: Jesse Hunt
•     jhunt@burrforsenate.com