Judge Moore introduces members of the the team during Kids In Trouble annual Christmas toy drive at the Foxtrappe Club. L-R HB-Roy Jefferson (NFL)-Judge Ted Newman and Judge Henry Kennedy, Jr.

We are still looking for love in all the wrong places. As we wait for the count and the courts to decide the next President of the United States—who we know will be Joe Binden. In the meantime, Donald Trump has pulled the wool over the eyes of Black America—despite his lost, the criminal justice system will continue to be JUSTICE & JUST-US. Thanks to Donald Trump, his appointing 200+ all white federal judges to life time appointments–plus the two he put on the Supreme Court. You can add our go along to get along favorite uncle to the mix, Clarence Thomas. He will help make “White America Great Again!”

These appointments have put our children in a hole so deep, they will never see daylight or justice in their lifetime. There is nothing that Joe Binden or Kamala Harris can do about it.

I thank God that in my life time I had local help in the DC Superior Court. There were judges like, Luke C. Moore, Harry T. Alexander, Eugene Hamilton, Ted Newman, Henry Kennedy, Jr., Paul Webber and Chief Judge Harold Greene sitting on the bench. In the 70s and 80s, they help me keep hope alive and enhance the growth of hundreds of black children.

Thanks to Luke I had access like no one else in the community. He made sure that my kids and friends received a fair shake when they appeared in the DC Superior Court, especially, when they were on the right side of the law.

Judge Harry T. Alexander made it clear to all cops and lawyers appearing in his courtroom they were to address all defendants male and female as Mr. and Mrs. I was in his court for one trial when a redneck cop kept addressing a defendant as BOY, Judge Alexander bang his gavel on the courtroom desk and said, “Case dismissed-mistaken ID!” People in the courtroom both black and white stood and applauded.

I also remember I had to stop going in Judge Luke Moore’s courtroom. He would see me and stop the proceedings and send the bailiff to come and get me. I would look up and see this brother headed in my direction. He asked, “Are you Harold Bell? And I said, ‘yes’ and he said, ‘follow me’. I followed him to the bench and Luke leans over and whispers ‘is everything alright’ and I said, ‘yes I was just stopping by to say hello but you were not in your chambers’. He said, ‘I am running a little late, sit over there and we can go to lunch I will be through here in a few minutes’. It was another hour!

You did not just see these judges only in a courtroom. You could find them at my Christmas toy parties, celebrity tennis tournaments, celebrity fashion shows and other Kids in trouble community outings. And several of them appeared as my guest on my sports talk show “Inside Sports!” Judge Henry Kenney, Jr. (one of the area’s great amature tennis players), likes to tell the story of how he met his wife at one of my Celebrity Fashion shows in the 80s. They are still married today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkafk63frbg/Judge

Politicians, law-enforcement, pro athletes, and media personalities all would follow Lukes lead in support of my community endeavors. In our community there are always going to be ‘Snakes in the Grass’ avoid them by staying out of high grass.

I remember having a close encounter with one of my favorite judges who was sitting on the bench back in the day. This encounter took place while I was hosting the Ohio State tribute at the Shorham Hotel in downtown DC. Thanks to Luke and DC’s first black police chief Bertell Jefferson, we kissed and made up.

The local student/athletes whom I was honoring played for the Ohio State football team, Cornelius Greene, Lenny Willis and Woodrow Roach (another story). They were home town athletes who had success as student/athletes at the school. They played in several Rose Bowl games and more important they graduated.

The local media much like today surpress our history and our success stories with a little help from “Spooks who Sit by the Door”. They pay little or no attention to our accomplishments.

There was legendary head coach, Woody Hayes and the equally famous two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin. They were household names and left little newspaper space for Greene, Willis and Roach. This was a huge undertaking for me so I sought the advice of my friend, Judge Moore. He loved the idea and said “lets do it” and it happen. I find it amazing in these times Ken Burns a white man has taken the lead when it comes to documenting our history–he has never walked in our shoes!

In 1968 the Kerner Commission appointed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson asked Governor Otto Kerner (D-lll) to head a commission to investigate why were there so many disturbances taking place in our inner-cities. He wanted to know what was causing this unrest in the black communities around the country? Kerner reported back to President Johnson in November 1968 and his report read, “America is headed for two different societies, one black and one white, separate and unequal”. We were forewarned!

Kerner laid the blame for the riots at the doorstep of White America and its systemic racism. President Johnson after reading the report it is rumored he locked the door to the Oval Office and got drunk. In the meantime, Black leaders sat on their hands and did absolutely nothing. They were still looking for the 40 acres and mule.

The only exception were the judges at the DC Superior Court led by Luke C. Moore. After the riots they joined me in the community and made every effort to enhance the growth of the black community by reaching back to enhanced the growth of our children. Any chances of further growth is slim and none. Trump has set-up a Road Block–the Federal Courts with a little help from the Supreme Court.

I greatly appreciated that Judge Moore had my back for the tribute. He pulled the right strings to get the hotel and he convinced, Congressman Walter Fauntroy and several other judges to join us in the venture.

I asked my partner TV-4 anchorman and my anchor in all things ‘Community’ Jim Vance to co-host the tribute with me. The tribute was a huge success.

Trump saved his biggest laugh for last. His last nominee to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in at the White House and she was sworn-in by guess who? Would you believe our favorite uncle, Clarence Thomas!

As we head into the unknown in 2021 has anyone seen my old friends Luke, Harry, Paul , Ted, Henry and Gene, I wonder where have they all gone?