On May 9th, Johannes Mehserle initiated his attempt to reverse the felony conviction that prevents him from returning to police work. Oscar Grant's family was denied the opportunity to attend that appeal hearing because, contrary to the rights of victims of violent crime in California, District Attorney Nancy O'Malley's office failed to notify the family beforehand. After having never missed a day of related court hearings — including traveling to Los Angeles to attend Mehserle's full Second Degree Murder trial and witness his conviction for Involuntary Manslaughter —the family discovered news of the appeal hearing on television after the fact.

On June 8th, the Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District in San Francisco, ruled that Mehserle's conviction should not be overturned. While the Involuntary Manslaughter conviction was considered grossly unjust, far too lenient and an affront to East Bay residents all too familiar with historic and ongoing police violence against communities of color, the denial of Mehserle's appeal comes as something of a relief for Oscar Grant's family and the Oakland community. The conviction prevents Mehserle from ever again wearing a badge and a gun.

Read More | Oscar Grant's Family & Oakland Community Denounce Mehserle's Bid to Become Cop Again | Mehserle Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter