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Landmark: McCleskey v. Kemp

What Was the McCleskey v. Kemp Case? McCleskey v. Kemp was a historic case in Georgia that showed how racial discrimination perpetuates unfair sentences for black defendants. Few cases involving the intersection of race, criminal law, and procedure have had the reach and impact of McCleskey v. Kemp.  The Supreme Court’s decision in McCleskey protected […]

Landmark: Furman v. Georgia

Furman v. Georgia was a landmark case argued by LDF that ended the death penalty in the United States in 1972. In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in LDF’s favor and found the death penalty as then administered constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.   […]

Landmark Voting Rights Bill Moves Forward in NY Senate as More Than 70 Groups Announce Support

Media contacts: Chris Ford: media@naacpldf.org Ben Schaefer: media@nyclu.org Monica Garcia: press@standupamerica.com  Today, civil and voting rights groups praised members of the Senate Elections Committee for voting to move the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (NYVRA / S1046B) out of committee, setting the stage for passage in the full Senate where the […]

Landmark Ruling Declares NYPD’s Stop-and-Frisk Tactics Violate Rights

Today, United States District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin issued a groundbreaking  decision declaring that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) implements its  controversial stop-and-frisk policy in an unconstitutional manner and violates the rights  of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Judge Scheindlin ordered sweeping reforms – including an independent monitor to oversee the NYPD […]

Landmark ruling declares NYPD’s Stop-and-Frisk tactics violate rights

Today, United States District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin issued a groundbreaking  decision declaring that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) implements its  controversial stop-and-frisk policy in an unconstitutional manner and violates the rights  of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Judge Scheindlin ordered sweeping reforms – including an independent monitor to oversee the NYPD […]

Lakisha Belizaire

Lady of the Last Chance: Lawyer Makes Her Mark Getting Convicts off Death Row

In what seems her natural state, Christina Swarns is as sweetly plainspoken and easygoing as a kindergarten teacher, which, decidedly, she is not. Seated across a conference table in a corner-view meeting room on the 16th floor of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund offices in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, Swarns brightens another 100 watts […]

La. sued for disenfranchising minority and low-income voters

Louisiana is being sued for alleged non-compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. (LDF), Project Vote and several private persons. The lawsuit, filed on April 19, alleges Louisiana has failed to give ample opportunity for low-income and minority voters to register by failing to follow the required […]

LA Times: Rights group takes a step-by-step approach on gay marriage

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD, is arguing that it is unconstitutional to discriminate against gay couples who are already legally married. It hopes its incremental approach will lead to a broader ruling by the Supreme Court. Two years ago, a small and little-known civil rights group in Boston launched a legal attack […]

LA Times: Consumers’ right to file class actions is in danger

It hasn't gotten a lot of press, but a case involving AT&T that goes before the U.S. Supreme Court next week has sweeping ramifications for potentially millions of consumers. If a majority of the nine justices vote the telecom giant's way, any business that issues a contract to customers — such as for credit cards, […]