Jefferson County Bids for Release From HR Consent Decree

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/09/County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:4:"file";s:75:"2020/09/County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:73:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-768x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-600x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-600x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:75:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081565906-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => BirminghamWatch
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:12:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:454;s:4:"file";s:52:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1.jpg";}s:18:"full-1599081565906";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:454;s:4:"file";s:67:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-e1599081551711.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-336x199.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:199;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-768x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-600x454.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:454;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-526x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:526;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-448x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:448;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:33:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:30:"ab-block-post-grid-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-600x454.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:454;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"County-attorney-Theo-Lawson.-8.26.2020-768x454-1-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

)
1659005612 
1599063572

A motion filed just before the close of business Tuesday could end 45 years of scrutiny for Jefferson County.

County attorney Theo Lawson filed a joint motion that Jefferson County be removed from its consent decree, stating that the county not only complies with but in many cases exceeds the requirements of federal law regarding recruitment, hiring and promotion of qualified individuals.

Lawson called this a great day for the county.

“As a member of the African American community, I take deep pride in reaching this milestone,” he said. “I’ve witnessed the county turn a page in its history where hiring practices that were once inconsistent, arbitrary, biased and adversely impacted African Americans and women, have now been rectified.”

County manager Tony Petelos said Jefferson County has come a long way.

“We could not have done it without the support of the commissioners, both present and past, and of course with the leadership from Theo Lawson and his office,” Petelos said. “We have assembled a great team and it would be great to get out from under this cloud.”

The County filed its motion at 4:39 p.m. Tuesday jointly with plaintiff’s, intervenors and the Department of Justice. A statement from the county said that if the motion is granted by the court, it would end one of the longest-running consent decree cases in the country.

Jefferson County entered the decree on Dec. 29, 1982.

 

Cambodian and Thai leaders hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia

Ceasefire talks have started between Thai and Cambodian leaders in Malaysia in an urgent effort to resolve deadly border clashes that entered a fifth day despite mounting international calls for peace.

Medical groups are concerned that RFK Jr. may dismiss a panel of primary care experts

The American Medical Association is urging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. not to oust members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group of experts focused on primary care.

Tom Lehrer, influential musical satirist, dies at 97

The songwriter and math professor found a following with his satirical political songs.

USA swim team members recovering from stomach bug at world championships

Some USA swim team members have missed events during the competition.

Trump sets EU tariff at 15%, lower than his original threat, after meeting in Scotland

Trump had most recently threatened tariffs of 30% on imports from the European Union. But on Sunday, he met with the president of the European Commission, and they agreed to a lower level.

His name is Mohammad Al-Motawaq. He is 18 months old. And he is starving in Gaza

Hidaya Al-Motawaq's son Mohammad is a year and a half old and weighs less than 10 pounds. Doctors and aid workers warn of permanent damage to the health of children in Gaza due to chronic malnutrition.

More BirminghamWatch Coverage