U.S. Circuit Judge Toby J. Heytens of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

7/13/2022

U.S. Circuit Judge Toby J. Heytens

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

c/o Lewis F. Powell Jr. Courthouse & Annex

1100 East Main Street, Suite 501

Richmond, VA  23219

Dear U.S. Circuit Judge Heytens,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I have a strong interest in learning history, social justice, and criminal justice reform.  In these subjects, I like to learn the need for civil rights to be stronger to reduce discrimination, protect the environment from pollution, have criminal justice reform to help protect people’s rights to reduce crime, and many others. U.S. Circuit Judge Heytens, the main reason I’m writing you a letter is to explain how I find your work in the judicial system to be very inspiring to me.

When you served as Solicitor General of Virginia from 2018-2021,  I liked on how you supported advancing civil rights by advocating for people with disabilities’ rights, working with Attorney General Mark Herring of Virginia to expand on laws to combat against hate crimes to help protect minorities including people who are different, and investigating public places that practice different forms of discrimination or violate civil rights.  Supported drug treatment programs to help drug users get the care they need to reduce drug abuse, worked on expansion of community service to help non-violent offenders, non-violent juveniles, and people with mental health issues get help on rehabilitation instead of strict sentencing, pushed for more programs to help victims of crime including victims of domestic violence get help to resources, and advocating while support the need for funds to improve DNA testing including forensic science to help solve evidence or cases efficiently to help reduce sending an innocent person to jail is common sense. Also in your role as Solicitor General of Virginia I really liked on how you worked with Attorney General Mark Herring of Virginia to expand on investigation units to help investigate public officials who are corrupt or accept illegal bribes and push for ethics reform like body cameras on law enforcement to reduce police misconduct. In 2021, I like on how you accepted President Biden to nominate you to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to help improve the judicial system. In your current role as U.S. Circuit Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, I like on how you are a continuous supporter of civil rights including people with disabilities’ rights and expanding on criminal justice reform. Another thing that I like about your work in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, is how you are a strong supporter of protecting civil liberties like the fourth amendment to help protect people from unreasonable searches and express the need for ethics reform to reduce judicial misconduct including police misconduct to reduce corruption.        

U.S. Circuit Judge Heytens, , I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different advance subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts in different settings or social situations, and get teased.  Your commitment to be a strong supporter of civil rights including people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on my disability.  Your role as former Solicitor General of Virginia and as current U.S. Circuit Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit gives helps give me motivation to continue to learn history, criminal justice reform, and social justice.  My future goal is to work in these areas to help emphasize the need for civil rights to be stronger to reduce discrimination, have criminal justice reform to help protect people’s rights while reduce crime, and many others. Also I enjoy reading some of your work and listening on Youtube on ideas of criminal justice reform along with ethics reform.

I strongly believe that you are making a great difference in the judicial system. I’m very proud on how you are working hard to support civil rights, push along with advocate for criminal justice reform, and many others. You truly inspire me to work hard on my disability, learn more about your work and continue to learn different subjects. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference,  and inspiring me. Please continue to advocate and push for common sense ideas to improve the judicial system.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick