Reprinted from The Washington Post An outtake from the recent controversy over expired-tag arrests: One of the reasons the District’s erstwhile policy was both objectionable and little-noticed is that police officers had discretion over whether or not to arrest a driver…
Reprinted from Huffington Post October 4, 2011 WASHINGTON — Ben Becker, 27, sat in the back of a police-commandeered transit bus on Saturday night, his hands placed tightly behind his back in plastic cuffs. He’d been marching on the Brooklyn Bridge…
Reprinted from New York Times October 4, 2011 A group of people arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge as part of the Occupy Wall Street protests last week filed a suit against New York City on Tuesday, alleging that officers had violated…
Reprinted from Gawker, By Lauri Apple The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Partnership for Civil Justice Fund has filed a federal class action lawsuit against New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the city, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, and a bunch of unidentified…
Reprinted from Washington Examiner Here’s something you don’t see every day: D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department has asked the FBI to investigate it. In a recent filing in federal court, D.C. cops asked the feds to find out who might have scrubbed…
Years of litigation lead to free speech victory In a free speech victory for grassroots activists in Washington, D.C., the DC government has been forced to rescind its unconstitutional rule governing political signs and posters that favored politicians’ speech over…
Reprinted from Associated Press WASHINGTON — Time limits on how long posters can hang to announce rallies, trumpet issues or plug candidates in Washington are the subject of a lawsuit a judge allowed to go forward Thursday while strongly suggesting…
Reprinted from Washington Post District regulations governing how long signs can remain affixed to city lampposts are unconstitutional and need to be rewritten, a federal judge signaled in a court opinion Thursday. In a 29-page ruling, U.S. District Chief Judge…
Mayor Gray’s Proposal Would Set Back the Freedom of Information Act by Decades Carl Messineo, Legal Director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund is testifying Wednesday July 11 before the D.C. Council in support of Freedom of Information and…
The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund’s four-year-long battle to overturn the District of Columbia’s unconstitutional postering regulations has resulted in a significant ruling today for free speech. “District regulations governing how long signs can remain affixed to city lampposts are…
Reprinted from Associated Press WASHINGTON — District of Columbia police officials are investigating police escorts given to 17 celebrities since 2002 to find out who approved them, whether they were reimbursable and if there was a legitimate need for them, Chief…
Testimony before the Committee on the Judiciary of the D.C. Council Good afternoon, I am Carl Messineo, Legal Director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund. The PCJF is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the advancement and…