U.S. District Judge John Gerrard of U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska

                                                            10/02/2017

U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard

U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska

c/o Robert V. Denney Federal Building

100 Centennial Mall North, Room 586

Lincoln, NE  68508

Dear U.S. District Judge Gerrard,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history, social justice, and public policy.  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 Gerrard, the main reason I’m writing you a letter is to explain how I find your work in the judicial system and in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska to be very inspiring to me.

When you served in the Nebraska Supreme Court from 1995-2012, I liked on how you were a strong supporter of  Civil Rights  by advocating for people with disabilities’ rights, pushing for strict sentencing on people who commit hate-crime,  and expressing the need to end racial profiling in the judicial system.  Also when you served in the Nebraska Supreme Court, I really like on how supported the need for diversity in the judicial system like more women including minorities to help improve the judicial systems relationship between the minorities communities and even help bring different perspective to ideas or rulings on different cases.  In May 2011, I was very proud on how you accepted President Obama to nominate you to serve on the on the U.S. District Court of the District of Nebraska to help him improve the judicial system along with push for criminal justice reform. Congrats on being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January 2012.  In your current role as   U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska I really appreciate on how you are a continuous supporter of Civil Rights,  advocate for the need to continue to reduce racial profiling,  and express ideas for criminal justice reform like expand programs to help victims of crime or drug users get the care they need,  have DNA testing including forensic science to help solve a cases while reduce sending an innocent person to jail.

U.S. District Judge Gerrard, I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased. Your continuous commitment to be a strong supporter of Civil Rights including people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on my disability.  Also your approach on your advocacy for criminal justice reform  along with the need for diversity motivates me to continue my interest in learning history and social justice. My future goal is to someday work in these areas to emphasize the need to make Civil Rights stronger, have diversity in society to make it better for all people who are different, have criminal justice reform to help protect people’s right while reduce crime, and many others. Also my letter is a gift to you for inspiring me and to wish you a Happy Birthday for November 2^nd.

I strongly believe that you are making a great impact in the judicial system. I’m very proud on how you are working hard to support Civil Rights, express the need for criminal justice reform, and express the need for diversity.  You have inspired me to work hard on my disability and continue to be motivated to learn history including social justice. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter,  making a difference in the judicial system, and inspiring me.  I wish you the best to continue to advocate for common sense ideas in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick