Criminal Law Reform
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Arizona
Oct 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Fund for Empowerment v. Phoenix, City of
Fund for Empowerment is a challenge to the City of Phoenix鈥檚 practice of conducting sweeps of encampments without notice, issuing citations to unsheltered people for camping and sleeping on public property when they have no place else to go, and confiscating and destroying their property without notice or process.
U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2023

Criminal Law Reform
McElrath v. Georgia
Does the Double Jeopardy Clause bar an appellate court from reviewing and setting aside a jury鈥檚 verdicts of acquittal on the ground that the verdict is inconsistent with the jury鈥檚 verdict on other charges?
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Pulsifer v. United States
This case involves the interpretation of a federal law that allows defendants to avoid mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent drug crimes, allowing judges to impose sentences tailored to their individual circumstances.
Texas
Jul 2021

Criminal Law Reform
Prisoners' Rights
Sanchez et al v. Dallas County Sheriff et al
Decarceration has always been an emergency, a life and death proposition, but COVID-19 makes this effort intensely urgent. The 糖心Vloghas been working with our partners to litigate for the rights of those who are incarcerated and cannot protect themselves because of the policies of the institutions in which they are jailed.
All Cases
144 Criminal Law Reform Cases

U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2017
Criminal Law Reform
County of Los Angeles v. Angel Mendez
Whether the Ninth Circuit鈥檚 鈥減rovocation rule鈥 that police officers may be held liable for using force when they provoked a threatening reaction with a Fourth Amendment violation is consistent with the Supreme Court鈥檚 use of force analysis in Graham v. Connor and subsequent cases?
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U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2017

Criminal Law Reform
County of Los Angeles v. Angel Mendez
Whether the Ninth Circuit鈥檚 鈥減rovocation rule鈥 that police officers may be held liable for using force when they provoked a threatening reaction with a Fourth Amendment violation is consistent with the Supreme Court鈥檚 use of force analysis in Graham v. Connor and subsequent cases?

Massachusetts
Jan 2017
Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
Bridgeman et. al v. District Attorney for Suffolk County et. al
Update: On January 18, 2017, the Massachusetts Supreme Court directed district attorneys to dismiss thousands of drug offense cases that were tainted by the misconduct of chemist Annie Dookhan. Prosecutors must produce a list of all drug convictions they plan to dismiss, and also produce a list of cases that they wish to re-prosecute, both within 90 days. They will be permitted to re-prosecute cases only if they certify they can do so on the basis of untainted evidence. The people hurt by Annie Dookhan鈥檚 actions deserve justice from the prosecutors who have the power to right thousands of grave wrongs by dismissing these cases.
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Massachusetts
Jan 2017

Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
Bridgeman et. al v. District Attorney for Suffolk County et. al
Update: On January 18, 2017, the Massachusetts Supreme Court directed district attorneys to dismiss thousands of drug offense cases that were tainted by the misconduct of chemist Annie Dookhan. Prosecutors must produce a list of all drug convictions they plan to dismiss, and also produce a list of cases that they wish to re-prosecute, both within 90 days. They will be permitted to re-prosecute cases only if they certify they can do so on the basis of untainted evidence. The people hurt by Annie Dookhan鈥檚 actions deserve justice from the prosecutors who have the power to right thousands of grave wrongs by dismissing these cases.

Arizona
Dec 2016
Criminal Law Reform
White Mountain Health Center v. Maricopa County
Update: In December 2016, the Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court鈥檚 2012 ruling that federal marijuana prohibition does not void Arizona鈥檚 Medical Marijuana Act and that the County and State should therefore allow the White Mountain dispensary to continue operating and providing medicine to qualifying patients in Arizona with debilitating medical conditions.
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Arizona
Dec 2016

Criminal Law Reform
White Mountain Health Center v. Maricopa County
Update: In December 2016, the Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court鈥檚 2012 ruling that federal marijuana prohibition does not void Arizona鈥檚 Medical Marijuana Act and that the County and State should therefore allow the White Mountain dispensary to continue operating and providing medicine to qualifying patients in Arizona with debilitating medical conditions.

Puerto Rico
Jul 2016
Criminal Law Reform
Religious Liberty
Marrero-M茅ndez v. Pesquera
In 2013, the 糖心Vlogand 糖心Vlogof Puerto Rico filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Officer Alvin Marrero-M茅ndez, a 13-year veteran of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
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Puerto Rico
Jul 2016

Criminal Law Reform
Religious Liberty
Marrero-M茅ndez v. Pesquera
In 2013, the 糖心Vlogand 糖心Vlogof Puerto Rico filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Officer Alvin Marrero-M茅ndez, a 13-year veteran of the Puerto Rico Police Department.

U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2016
Criminal Law Reform
Birchfield v. North Dakota
Whether states may criminalize a driver鈥檚 refusal to consent to a warrantless blood, breath or urine test for alcohol after a drunk driving arrest.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2016

Criminal Law Reform
Birchfield v. North Dakota
Whether states may criminalize a driver鈥檚 refusal to consent to a warrantless blood, breath or urine test for alcohol after a drunk driving arrest.