I’ve always had an interest in the criminal justice system from a young age. This was probably developed early on because my grandfather and namesake, David Walker, is a district judge. He’s handled all kinds of trials--murders, divorces, child abuse, rape, etc. He’s retired now, but is still personally requested to fill in sometimes due to the storied reputation of his fair and just approach.  He’s had conversations with me since I was a little boy about “how things work” and what he’s experienced first hand. My father, George Walker, has a law degree as well. Although, he does not practice law anymore,  we’ve definitely had quite a few thought-provoking discussions over the years.  These conversations have definitely formed a lot of curiosities in my mind about how things are, why they are this way, and whether things can be better. I’ve benefited greatly by having my father and grandfather share their viewpoints with their unique thinking process. Attorneys have a way of looking at issues with a multi-pronged approach that is truly remarkable.

Being good at law means you’re very good at breaking complicated questions down into parts and looking without emotion at those parts. You’re able to separate pain, sorrow, misfortune, shame, anger, expectation, and outrage from analysis and decisions. You’re good at isolating those problems you are able to solve, and ignoring those that aren’t on your plate right now. You’re good at being able to move, step-by-step, to a conclusion, and to move through a series of conclusions to a specific result. Thinking Like a Lawyer

Is the current system fair and just? A discussion with my roommates.

More compassion. Less hate.

The capture and death of Osama bin Laden led to a conversation with my roommates last night on our back patio on whether capital punishment was fair and just, which ultimately led to a lengthy & passionate discussion about the jail and prison system in the United States. Even though we all had varying views as to what is “fair” and what is “just,” we all agreed that the way things are right now are not perfectly ideal. None of us could figure out solutions that would work in every instance. Every situation seems to need a custom approach.

I have a very compassionate idealistic view of human nature (and admittedly sometimes naive view), especially as I learn more and more about Buddhism and my compassion for other living creatures continues to grow.

I strongly believe there is certainly room for compassion in the prison system. Here are some examples that turn the typical punishment-based ideology on its head:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj3SMiDvjdg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP-ORsFeIUY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sttawtpNoQ

• What if we were more open to exploring things like this?
• What if prisoners could be integrated safely back into society?
• What if we had enough compassion as a society to not want to “lock them up and throw away the key?”
• What if even the toughest criminals could break through of their mindset given the right tools and methods and patience from us?
• What if we believed in the goodness of human nature?

Thank you for listening and keeping an open mind.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=21mpQQ9COD4