justice of peace

“We covered a lot of wrecks in those days. There was a family that was horribly killed — their car ran into the back of a truck carrying pipes. We were standing there with some cops waiting for the justice of peace to get there and I realized that I had no feeling whatsoever. It took a long time for it to come back.”

In some small counties in Texas, a justice of peace might determine cause of death.

"These are profound changes that mean the country can walk the path of social justice, of peace, of ending massacres, of stopping violence, of closing the gap of inequity... of preserving life," said Barreras.

With the complaint making its way to Modena tribunal court well over two years later, Justice of Peace Nadia Trifilo ultimately ruled in favor of the 69-year-old mother.

“I bring the blessing of community, of justice, of peace and of having been the partner of a wise and beautiful loving man.”