PROJECT50, a leading organization advocating for equity and justice within Ventura County’s Black community, is calling for an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of James Jenkins on April 23, 2025. The organization asserts that Jenkins’s arrest followed biased and improper handling by Ventura County Law Enforcement and the Ventura County DA office of an incident involving newly appointed Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ethel Hernandez.
According to eyewitness accounts, Mr. Jenkins was assisting a friend, Mr. Ethan Gross, in relocating a trailer at the city’s request when Ms. Hernandez, unreservedly confronted him regarding the positioning of his vehicle near a sidewalk. The disagreement, while verbal and nonviolent, led to a second verbal and nonviolent disagreement with Ms. Hernandez boyfriend which led to Jenkins’s arrest the following day under questionable justifications.
PROJECT50 raises serious concerns that Hernandez’s position as a sitting Superior Court Judge may have created an unfair advantage, compromising Jenkins’s right to fair treatment and due process. The organization maintains that favoritism or judicial influence within any stage of a legal proceeding erodes the public’s trust in the criminal legal system.
“This is more than one man’s case; it is a reflection of what far too many Black residents continue to face in counties across America,” said Dexter Nunnery, Founder and CEO of PROJECT50. “When authority and privilege interfere with justice, the fairness of the entire system is called into question. PROJECT50 stands behind James Jenkins and every community member fighting for their rights.”
The organization has provided Mr. Jenkins with legal guidance and continues to stand with his family throughout the ongoing process. PROJECT50 emphasizes that the handling of this case exemplifies the urgent need for systemic reform and community oversight within local courts, policing, and prosecutorial practices.
“Impartiality must be the foundation of our justice system,” Nunnery added. “If those entrusted to uphold the law are exempt from accountability, justice cannot truly exist.” PROJECT50 urges Ventura County officials and state oversight agencies to implement an immediate and transparent investigation to ensure judicial accountability and restore confidence in the integrity of the legal process.
Founded in 2022 by Dexter Nunnery, PROJECT50 is a Ventura County based organization dedicated to advancing equality, advocacy, and opportunity for the Black community. Created in response to ongoing racial disparities amplified by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, PROJECT50 serves as a vital support network offering legal guidance, counseling, child support and access to essential services such as probation and employment support. The organization functions as both a community home and a platform for systemic change, working to dismantle structural inequities within
the legal and social service systems.
PROJECT50’s mission is rooted in empowerment through action, helping individuals navigate complex systems while advocating for justice reform that holds institutions accountable to the communities they serve.
