Letter from Lani Guinier to Solomon Seay Esq. RE: Questions About Testimony in State of Alabama v. Maggie Bozeman and Julia Wilder
Correspondence
February 26, 1982

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Legal Department General, Lani Guinier Correspondence. Letter from Lani Guinier to Solomon Seay Esq. RE: Questions About Testimony in State of Alabama v. Maggie Bozeman and Julia Wilder, 1982. bd35d335-e492-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/b77402e1-84d0-41ca-b720-6925d1888d24/letter-from-lani-guinier-to-solomon-seay-esq-re-questions-about-testimony-in-state-of-alabama-v-maggie-bozeman-and-julia-wilder. Accessed April 19, 2025.
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Lesa,@,":ffi. February 26, So l ornon S. Seay, Ir; s(l . :352 l)ex [;e:r Avr:rrrrc Mont-gomery, A,l,;rbrrrn.r 36LO1. Dear lvlr. Seay; I arrt wri.t.irr<1 in rr:fercnce t.o t.he c.ses of SLat-e of Al.rb.ttna v. M;-rr;<y i.r: lloz,crrrrrrr ,lr)(l .Jrr.l. i;r W j .1.<lcr'. t have been reviewing tt)e t Fan-scr'1pt.s of ttrc tn atr^ri t-n t.lre assistance of a }aw sLudenl- frorn New York University Law Sctrool, MS. Cheryl Flowarcl. As l-he Alabarna Court. of Criminal- Appeals not-ed about blris case, l-he t-est.imony of the wi.tnesses is quite confused, and often contnadict"ory depending on who was examining thern. I have bried unsuccessfully to call you several times to discuss quest,ions w}-rich have arisen as we examine the transcript. I have also spoken to Mr. J.L. Chestnut whose recollection of the trials is somewhat faded. He was ex- tremely cooperative, however, and has agreed to review his files as soon as possible. 1. What prel iminary rnotions di.d you f -iIe? Did you f ile a mot-ion to sever the cases? Did the judge state a reason that. the cases should be triecl separat-el y? Did you f ile a motion for a chanc;e of venue ;rnci 1f not., wiry not? l)id you file a rnol.ion t-o cluash t-he indjctment- on the r;rounds that; blacks were systematically excludeci f rorn t-he jury venire? When you clLrestjoned the jury on voir dire did you ask .iny questions at>out pne-tnia1 publicity? If nol-, why not? Dicl you note for the record t.he ra(:e of the jurors argainst whom the prosecul-or use<l his peremptory challenges? Do you have ilny not-es f rom t-hc voj.r cli.re? (.ttttttiltttliorr.s ttrc tlt'rltrt lilie lttr Il.S. ittt'ttrrrr la.\ l)tttl,o\t's The NAACP LTGAL DtftNSE & tDt,CATl0NAL ttJN0 is not part of lhc Nalional Associalion Ior the Advancemcnt of Colored People although it was lounded by it and shares its conrmitrncnt lo equal rights. LDt has had lor over 20 years a separate Board, program, stalf, oflice and budget. EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. N.Y. 10019 . (212) 586-8397 I 982 NAACP LEGAL DTFENSE AND 10 Columbus Crrcle, New York, f n the me.tnt;inre, call me or wite nre in iL woulcl be very helpful if you could response to t-he following questions: 2. Sol.ornon S. Seay, Iil s11 . I)ac;e 2 February 26, '1982 Please excuse the volume burdensome or inconvenient to telephone, Cheryl and I would offices and meet with you as me hear from you. 3. Did you become aware at any time of any conflict bebween the defense of JuIia Wilder and that of Maggie Bozeman? Were yorlr clients ever asked by the judge about having the sarle attorney represent them? Why was JuIia Wilder tried first? Who or what was responsible for the six month delay in the trial of Maggie Bozeman? Did you know that l-he prosecutor was deposing witnesses prior to brial? Were you ever notified of such depositions? Did you request copi-es prior to trial? Can you provide us with a tnanscript of l-he defendants' arrangement copies of the briefs filed by the State of Alabama on appeal, copies of the depositions of the witnesses taken before trial in the prosecutor's office, and copies of the trial exhibits? /r. 6. of questions. If it is too respond in writing or by be happy to come to your soon as possible. Please let We are very encouraged from our limited review that there are several possible constitutional claims to be raj-sed in a habeas corpus or post-conviction proceeding. We look forward to working with you on this matter. Yours sincerely, Lani Guinier LG/ Jb 18 90 18 91