B - Federal Lower Courts
Won (2004)
N.Y. v. Tanella
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
No. 03-1589; at the request of the DEA, AELE and the IACP filed an amicus brief supporting the dismissal of manslaughter charges against a federal agent who fatally shot a resisting suspect. In our brief, we show how it is possible to shoot a suspect in self-defense, when the bullet enters the suspects back. View the AELE-IACP brief, the lower court decision, and the prosecutions brief. The appeals court upheld the dismissal of the charges. The court found that the agent was immune from state prosecution under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. It also found that the agent honestly believed his life to be in danger at the time of the shooting and that his belief was objectively reasonable. Click here to view the appeals court opinion.
Issue not considered (1998)
U.S. v. Nafkha
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
No. 96-4130
We argued that 18 U.S. Code 3501 overrules Miranda. However, the
appellate panel found the "confession was obtained in full compliance with Miranda and related cases, making consideration of section 3501
unnecessary."
Lost (1996)
Washington v. Lambert
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
98 F 3rd 1181 Decision
We asked the appellate court to overturn a civil damages award against an
officer who caused the plaintiffs to be detained at gunpoint, because he
mistakenly believed them to be the perpetrators of a series of armed robberies.
Won (1991)
Woodland v. City of Houston
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
940 F. 2d 134 (First appeal)
Federal trial court enjoined the city from asking applicants for police and
fire employment about prior drug use, thefts and other criminal behavior on the
grounds it invaded their privacy rights under the constitution. We asked the
appellate panel to overturn the injunction as improvidently issued. We declined
to support other questions of a personal and private nature that the city asked
these applicants.
Lost (1990)
Deloach v. Bevers
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
922 F. 2d 618
Compensatory and punitive damages award against a police officer who, on the
advice of the prosecutor, welfare authorities and physicians, initiated
prosecution against a babysitter for the death of an infant.
Lost (1986)
Crossman v. Maroccio
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
792 F. 2d 1
Police offered to settle a suit per FRCP Rule 68 and plaintiffs refused. Verdict
was substantially less than the offer and the police seek an award of
post-offer legal fees and costs. See 108 F.R.D. 433 (D.R.I. 1985) for case
below.
Won (1982)
Payton v. U.S.
11th Cir. En banc review of 5th Circuit panel
decision
679 F. 2d 475
Suit against U.S. Parole Board for negligent release of dangerous killer; AELE
joined brief of Crime Victims Legal Advocacy Institute in support of the family
of victim and urging stricter release standards.
Won (1982)
Daniels v. Gilbreath
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 10th Circuit
668 F. 2d 477 Decision
Wrongful death judgment against sheriff by parents of released inmate;
liability of jailers not extended beyond period of incarceration.
Appeal Dropped (1973)
Landman v. Cunningham
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 4th Cir.
No. 73-1973 (Appeal dismissed)
Prior decisions at 333 F. Supp. 621 and 354 F. Supp. 1292, 1302
Trial court awarded damages against prison warden for actions, which were
lawful at the time; AELE challenged the retroactivity of award. Case settled
without decision.
Won (1976)
Sims v. Eisen
U.S. Dist. Ct. (N.D. Ill.)
No. 76 C 981 (Unpublished)
Rape victim was sued by her attackers for "misidentification" after
their convictions were upheld by a criminal appeals court. Federal court
dismissed their "Civil Rights" lawsuit against the victim.
Won (1977)
Kasold v. Cardwell
U.S. Ct. Appeal, 9th Circuit
554 F. 2d 1069
Police obtained and executed search warrant when teen-age victim reported crime
six months after commission. An U.S. District Court in a habeas corpus hearing
held that information was too "stale" to justify a warrant. The
appeals court summarily reversed.
Decided on other issues (1976)
Appeal not decided (1977)
Williams v. Alioto
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 9th Circuit
549 F. 2d 136; 1977 U.S. App. Lexis 10367
In so-called "Zebra" case, AELE argued that San Francisco police
acted in good faith and within proper and constitutional guidelines and that
therefore, an injunction should not have been granted solely to ameliorate
radical tensions. Appellate court avoided deciding the issue on its merits and
vacated the injunction for "mootness".
Won (1974)
Mathews v. Janega
U.S. Dist. Ct. (N.D. Ill.)
No. 74-C-70 (Unpublished)
AELE argued that crime victims could not be sued by perpetrator under sections 1983
and 1985 of the U.S. Civil Rights Acts. U.S. District Court dismissed suit.
AELE did not file amicus curiae brief, but rather, furnished direct
representation for crime victim who was sued.
Won (1976)
Johnson v. Burgess
U.S. Dist. Ct. (E.D. Va.)
No. CA 595-74-A (Unpublished)
ACLU filed class action suit to require Virginia State Police to expunge from
records all arrest records not resulting in conviction. AELE contested this
position.
Won (1975)
Cabbler v. Sup't
U.S. Ct. Appeals, 4th Circuit
528 F. 2d 1142
AELE argued that evidence discovered by police during warrantless inventory of
contents of impounded car should be admitted into evidence.
Lost (1975)
Clark v. Ziedonis
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 9th Circuit
513 F. 2d 79
AELE argued that police officer may use deadly force to apprehend fleeing
burglary suspect. AELE argued further, that trial court was engaging in
unreasonable "second-guessing" when it found that officer did not
fire in reasonable apprehension of harm when suspect turned toward him in dark gangway,
at night, with a blue steel object in his hand. Object later proved to be a
file.
Lost (1975)
Rice v. Wolff
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 8th Circuit
513 F. 2d 1280
AELE argued that Court should consider complete good faith of police, absence
of deterrence, and exigent circumstances in applying exclusionary rule. Case
involved booby-trap bomb murder of Omaha police officer.
Won (1973)
Hill v. Rowland
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 4th Circuit
474 F. 2d 1374
Held that the good faith of the arresting officer should be considered by jury
in deciding a civil action brought against police officers for false arrest.
Won (1973)
U.S. v. Bozada
U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 8th Circuit (en banc)
473 F. 2d 389
The court upheld the search by the police of a truck full of stolen shoes. No
search warrant was necessary, the court ruled, because the police had reliable
information that the truck was about to be moved out of the jurisdiction.
Won (1972)
U.S. v. Dellinger
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
472 F. 2d 340
Court refused to dismiss contempt citations against Attorneys Kunstler and
Weinglass for courtroom disruptions in the "Chicago 7" case.
Won (1971)
U.S. v. Robinson
U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
439 F. 2d 553
Permitted police, for their own safety, to conduct full search of persons
arrested for traffic offenses.
Won (1971)
Turco v. Allen
U.S. District Court, Baltimore, MD
334 F. Supp. 209
Court refused Atty. William Kunstler's request to interfere with State Black
Panther trial and refused to issue an order prohibiting the Baltimore Police
from investigating the Black Panthers.
Won (1970)
Metros v. District Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
441 F. 2d 313
AELE asked the appellate court to overturn and order, issued in a civil rights suit,
which required the Denver Police to reveal the identity of their confidential
informants.
Click here for list of web sites with full text of lower federal court decisions on line.