Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams will attend a panel discussion on the Nizah Morris case, it was announced this week.
The event, entitled “Trans Lives Matter,” is sponsored by the Justice for Nizah committee and will be held 6-8 p.m. April 15 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The event is free and open to the public.
Former state Rep. Babette Josephs, a J4N member, will serve as moderator.
“We’re very pleased that Seth Williams will be attending,” Josephs told PGN. “There are many outstanding questions about Nizah’s homicide, which Seth Williams may be able to help answer. Even if we can’t solve Nizah’s homicide, we can at least get answers to some basic questions. We owe that much to Nizah.”
Morris was a transgender woman found with a fatal head wound in 2002, shortly after a Center City “courtesy ride” from Philadelphia police.
Josephs said a large attendance at the panel discussion could be most helpful.
“We hope many people will attend, and provide input on future strategies to help solve Nizah’s homicide,” she said.
Nellie Fitzpatrick, director of the city’s Office of LGBT Affairs, also has confirmed her attendance at the panel discussion.
On March 18, Josephs and two other J4N members met with Williams to discuss concerns relating to the Morris case.
Josephs described the tenor of the meeting as “cordial,” but said many questions about the case remain.
“Seth Williams was cordial, and appeared receptive to working with J4N to get to the bottom of what happened to Nizah Morris,” Josephs said.
She said Williams divulged a few details about the Morris case, but no suspects have been identified.
The D.A.’s Office has numerous investigative reports about the Morris case that remain off-limits to the public. Josephs said the possibility of their release wasn’t discussed at the meeting.
“The meeting was an important first step, and we’re hoping to have more positive dialogue with Mr. Williams in the future,” she added
Through a spokesperson, Williams issued this statement about the meeting:
“It was good to sit down with former state Rep. Babette Josephs, Rich Wilson and Charles Goodwin to talk about how we can keep the lines of communications open and to keep working together. I’m glad I was invited to the Justice for Nizah panel on April 15. I’m planning to attend. I walked away from the meeting with a better understanding of the committee’s concerns, and the hope that the LGBT community and my office can continue to support each other and work together.”
Also in attendance at the meeting were BJ Graham-Rubin, chief of civil litigation for the D.A.’s Office; Michael Weiss, a special adviser to Williams; and Cameron L. Kline, director of communications for the D.A.’s Office.
In December, about 60 Morris advocates held a Center City march and candlelight vigil outside the D.A.’s Office to urge transparency in the Morris case.