US Supreme Court remands redistricting case to determine if state improperly used race as a basis for redistricting lines

Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Bd. of Elections, No. 15-680 (U.S. March 1, 2017) In this U.S. Supreme Court redistricting case, the Court held the lower courts misapplied the standard for determining whether race was an impermissible factor in redrawing district lines. This
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Citizen thrown out of city council meeting allowed to go forward with some, but not all claims against presiding council member and police officer

Heaney v. Roberts, No. 15-31088 (5th Cir. January 23, 2017) This is a First Amendment retaliation/discrimination case where the Plaintiff, Heaney, was ejected from a city council meeting allegedly due to his statements at the meeting. On September 18, 2013, Tom Heaney
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U.S. 5th Circuit holds officer who was present but did not perform roadside body cavity search can potentially be liable for §1983 claim under bystander liability theory

Hamilton v. kindred, No. 16-40611(5th Cir. January 12, 2017) This is an interlocutory appeal in a suit involving alleged unlawful body cavity searches of two women and the trial court’s denial of a Deputy Sheriff’s claim of qualified immunity. Two women, Hamilton
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U.S. Supreme Court holds officer entitled to qualified immunity for shooting suspect after arriving late to an altercation with other officers

RAY WHITE, ET AL. v. DANIEL T. PAULY, No.16-67 (U.S. January 9, 2017)  This is an excessive force, police shooting case where the United States Supreme Court granted an officer’s qualified immunity defense. Through a serious of events, three officers became involved
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U.S. 5th Circuit holds it was not unconstitutional for office to use non-deadly punches to gain control of the arms of a drunken, actively resisting suspect.

Griggs v. Brewer, No. 16-10221(5th Cir. October 28,2016) This is a qualified immunity/excessive force claim where the U.S. 5th Circuit affirmed the granting of the officer’s qualified immunity defense. Officer Charley Brewer conducted a routine traffic stop of a vehicle driven by
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Ex-Police Chief’s suit against Mayor was not “matter of public concern” in relation to Chief’s suit against City under First Amendment

Gibson v. Kilpatrick,15-60583(5th Cir. September 20,2016) This is a First Amendment retaliation in employment case where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit held the employee’s speech was not on a matter of public concern. This is a continuing litigation
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