U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

 

2/02/2023

U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse 

P.O. Box 2546

Charleston, WV  25329

Dear U.S. District Judge Berger,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history and social justice.  In these subjects, I like to learn 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.  U.S. District Judge Berger, 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 Kanawha County Circuit Judge of West Virginia from 1994-2009, I truly appreciated on how you were a strong supporter of Civil Rights by advocating for people with disabilities’ rights and pushing for strict sentencing for people who commit hate-crime to help protect minorities including people who are different.  Supporting drug treatment programs to help drug-users get the care they need to reduce drug abuse, expanding court resources to help victims of crime or victims of domestic violence get help on dealing with their trauma, and heavily supporting along with expressing the need for funds to improve DNA testings including forensic science to help solve evidence or cases efficiently to reduce sending an innocent person to jail is common sense for criminal justice reform. In July 2009, I liked on how you accepted President Obama to nominate you to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia to help him improve the judicial system.  On November 2009, I was amazed on how you made history by becoming the first African American women to become a federal judge in West Virginia.  In your current role as U.S. District Judge, I really like on how you are a continuous strong supporter of Civil Rights including people with disabilities’ rights  and continue support along with advocate for criminal justice reform. Another thing that I like about your work in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia is how you support protecting civil liberties from being violated like the 4th amendment to help protect people from unreasonable searches and address the need to reduce racial profiling to help protect minorities including immigrants from being oppressed without probable cause.

U.S. District Judge Berger, 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, 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 Kanawha County Circuit Judge of West Virginia and as current U.S. District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia motivates me to continue to learn history, social justice, and criminal justice reform. My future goal is to someday work in these areas to help emphasize the need to make Civil Rights stronger to reduce discrimination, have criminal justice reform to help protect people’s rights while reduce crime, and many others. My letter is a gift to you for inspiring me and for Black History Month to help recognize African American individuals who work hard to make a great difference for society.

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 have inspired me to work hard on my disability and to continue my interest in learning history including social justice. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great impact on society, and inspiring me. I wish you the best to continue to make a great difference in the judicial system.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick