Empowering Communities to stop police violence
Through direct legal representation and community advocacy, Justice Lab: Putting Racist Policing on Trial™ aims to create a partnership among directly-impacted people, communities, private law firms, and legal clinics to challenge racially discriminatory policing practices in Louisiana.
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash
Latest News
Court Denies West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office Bid to Toss Justice Lab Case of Unconstitutional Search and Seizure of Black Woman
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge held yesterday that Justice Lab client Nia Mills could proceed to trial in her case against West Baton Rouge Sheriff Officers Allen Connelly, John Gaudet and other deputies for violating her Fourth Amendment rights. United States District Judge Brian A. Jackson held in two orders on November 21, 2024 […]
Read More
Court Orders Louisiana State Police to Share Public Records in Victory for Justice Lab Client
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana State Police must produce documents surrounding the death of Mr. Jabari Asante-Chioke, a 52‑year‑old Black man killed by police in 2021, as well as any records of policing procedures relating to people experiencing mental health crises. The Louisiana State Police was ordered by the 19th Judicial District Court to do […]
Read More
ACLU of Louisiana’s Justice Lab Resolves Latest Lawsuit Alleging Discriminatory Policing
NEW ORLEANS — A settlement has been reached between the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana Justice Lab client Ms. Jacinta Danks, the City of Kenner, Louisiana, and Mr. Chase Lawler, a Kenner Police Department officer. The case is part of the Justice Lab’s broader effort to end discriminatory and violent policing against people of color. Since […]
Read More
Constitutional Rights Law Groups File Friend-of-the-Court Briefs Urging Supreme Court to Clarify Time Limit for Civil Rights Lawsuits
NEW ORLEANS—Public interest law groups, including The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Institute for Justice, Orleans Public Defenders, and Public Justice, have filed amicus briefs supporting the petitions for writs of certiorari in Brown v. Pouncy and Monroe v. Conner. The amicus briefs underscore the need for the Supreme Court to safeguard victims’ ability to sue […]
Read More
ACLU of Louisiana Reaches Settlement Between Local Teacher and St. Charles Parish Sheriff Officer for Fourth Amendment Rights Violations
NEW ORLEANS—A settlement has been reached on behalf of ACLU of Louisiana client, Mr. Cedric Otkins, a teacher who was stopped and had his car searched by St. Charles Parish Sheriff officers at a public park in Destrehan, LA after one of the officers claimed to smell cannabis emitting from the vehicle. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to Mr. Otkins as part of the settlement agreement.
Read More
Jury Finds St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Deputy Inflicted Emotional Distress Upon a Teenager While Filming Mother’s Arrest
NEW ORLEANS — A jury composed of citizens of the greater New Orleans area has found that a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Mr. De’Shaun Johnson, son of Ms. Teliah Perkins, as he filmed the violent arrest of his mother.
Read More
ACLU of Louisiana Responds to Guilty Plea of Former Officer Involved in Beating of Justice Lab Client
SHREVEPORT — The ACLU of Louisiana has released the following statement after former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO) Correctional Officer Javarrea Pouncy pled guilty to a federal civil rights violation in the beating of ACLU of Louisiana client, Mr. Jarius Brown.
Read More
Latest News
Court Denies West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office Bid to Toss Justice Lab Case of Unconstitutional Search and Seizure of Black Woman
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge held yesterday that Justice Lab client Nia Mills could proceed to trial in her case against West Baton Rouge Sheriff Officers Allen Connelly, John Gaudet and other deputies for violating her Fourth Amendment rights. United States District Judge Brian A. Jackson held in two orders on November 21, 2024 […]
Read More
Court Orders Louisiana State Police to Share Public Records in Victory for Justice Lab Client
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana State Police must produce documents surrounding the death of Mr. Jabari Asante-Chioke, a 52‑year‑old Black man killed by police in 2021, as well as any records of policing procedures relating to people experiencing mental health crises. The Louisiana State Police was ordered by the 19th Judicial District Court to do […]
Read More
ACLU of Louisiana’s Justice Lab Resolves Latest Lawsuit Alleging Discriminatory Policing
NEW ORLEANS — A settlement has been reached between the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana Justice Lab client Ms. Jacinta Danks, the City of Kenner, Louisiana, and Mr. Chase Lawler, a Kenner Police Department officer. The case is part of the Justice Lab’s broader effort to end discriminatory and violent policing against people of color. Since […]
Read More
Constitutional Rights Law Groups File Friend-of-the-Court Briefs Urging Supreme Court to Clarify Time Limit for Civil Rights Lawsuits
NEW ORLEANS—Public interest law groups, including The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Institute for Justice, Orleans Public Defenders, and Public Justice, have filed amicus briefs supporting the petitions for writs of certiorari in Brown v. Pouncy and Monroe v. Conner. The amicus briefs underscore the need for the Supreme Court to safeguard victims’ ability to sue […]
Read More
ACLU of Louisiana Reaches Settlement Between Local Teacher and St. Charles Parish Sheriff Officer for Fourth Amendment Rights Violations
NEW ORLEANS—A settlement has been reached on behalf of ACLU of Louisiana client, Mr. Cedric Otkins, a teacher who was stopped and had his car searched by St. Charles Parish Sheriff officers at a public park in Destrehan, LA after one of the officers claimed to smell cannabis emitting from the vehicle. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to Mr. Otkins as part of the settlement agreement.
Read More
Jury Finds St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Deputy Inflicted Emotional Distress Upon a Teenager While Filming Mother’s Arrest
NEW ORLEANS — A jury composed of citizens of the greater New Orleans area has found that a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Mr. De’Shaun Johnson, son of Ms. Teliah Perkins, as he filmed the violent arrest of his mother.