Tag: civil rights
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Trump administration investigates Cherry Creek School District for alleged racial discrimination
The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into Cherry Creek School District on Monday over allegations of racial discrimination. The department said its Office for Civil Rights is reviewing claims that the district violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by sponsoring “a wide range of racially-discriminatory programming.” The complaints alleged the district…
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‘Utterly no precedent’: Federal judge expresses concerns about Jeffco’s early appeal in jail death case
A federal judge shared his concerns on Monday about Jefferson County’s appeal of a routine procedural order in a constitutional rights case, which the plaintiffs argued could spawn appeal-related delays in countless lawsuits against the government. During a hearing, U.S. District Court Judge S. Kato Crews noted he could find no decisions backing up the…
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Federal judge declines to award attorney fees in ‘very weak’ voter intimidation case
A federal judge agreed last week that three civic organizations presented a “very weak” voter intimidation case to her last year, but it was not so baseless as to award the defendants attorney fees after they prevailed at trial. Last July, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney concluded the organizers of an “election integrity”…
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Appeals court rules Denver ordinance’s constitutionality has no bearing on lawfulness of arrest
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that regardless of whether a plaintiff could later show Denver’s ordinance was unconstitutional, arresting officers were acting with probable cause at the time and could not be held liable. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals pointed to a 1979 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that indicated…
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Federal judge stands by ruling dismissing some of protesters’ claims against Denver
A federal judge last week refused to alter her ruling allowing only some claims to proceed to a jury trial against Denver for its alleged constitutional violations against protesters. Numerous judges this year have found Denver or its officers may be held liable for excessive force or First Amendment violations in a series of lawsuits.…
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New Colorado legal organization named after pioneering Denver lawyer
Members of the legal community gathered at the University of Denver on Wednesday night to dedicate a new professional organization to the late Irving P. Andrews, a prominent lawyer and civil rights advocate. “The very first step in his process is to recognize the suffering of those who are subject to injustice. To do so…
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‘Take me up to the 10th Circuit’: Federal judge, civil rights attorney defiant as $18,000 sanction on the line
A federal judge and a prominent civil rights attorney both stood their ground at a hearing on Thursday over an impending $18,000 sanction resulting from a failure to turn over evidence as ordered. Sasha Cronick is pursuing claims of unreasonable search and seizure and false arrest against Colorado Springs officers who handcuffed her minutes after…
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Federal judge slams civil rights attorneys for ‘enabling and facilitating’ disobedience of court order
A federal judge vented her frustration at a pair of civil rights attorneys last month for continuing to protest her finding that sanctions are warranted in the wake of their client’s refusal to turn over evidence to the defense. Sasha Cronick is pursuing claims of unreasonable search and seizure and false arrest against Colorado Springs…
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10th Circuit partially reinstates religious discrimination lawsuit of ex-Douglas County schools administrator
A former high school administrator may pursue his claims of religious discrimination against the Douglas County School District, the federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Tuesday. Corey McNellis worked at Ponderosa High School for 14 years and was the athletic director and assistant principal at the time of his termination in October 2020. According…