Archives
Contact: Paige Cram, Communications Coordinator, communications@nlg.org, 212-679-5100, ext. 15
New York—The National Lawyers Guild filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in the Colorado Court of Appeals on February 18 in the case of Churchill v. The University of Colorado in support of the tenured professor who was fired over constitutionally-protected statements.
In the brief, the Guild argues that politically-motivated, wrongful discharges are a threat to academic freedom and the First Amendment rights of all university faculty members. Universities are traditionally a haven for free speech, but allowing the termination of faculty over unpopular, but constitutionally-protected, comments will have a chilling effect on campuses nationwide. The brief notes, “The suppression of free inquiry and critical thinking vitiates the First Amendment and undermines the foundation of higher learning in this country.”
The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado launched an ad hoc investigation into all of Professor Churchill’s writings and public statements after he wrote a post-9/11 op-ed critical of U.S. foreign policy. This is part of an alarming trend, particularly on campuses, by reactionary forces to persecute and expel progressives who voice dissent.
The brief was submitted in conjunction with the Center for Constitutional Rights, Latina/o Critical Legal Theory, Inc, and the Society of American Law Teachers, as well as several individual attorneys.
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.
###
| permalink | related link
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paige Cram, Communications Coordinator, 212-679-5100, ext. 15, communications@nlg.org
New York--On the opening of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 7th Session Universal Period Review of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the National Lawyers Guild calls upon the Iranian government to halt the execution of and immediately release those detained arbitrarily for engaging in peaceful protest, to investigate reports of their ill-treatment, and to fully respect the Iranian citizens’ right to freedom of expression and assembly.
The National Lawyers Guild reiterates the grave concerns of UN experts about reports of killings, ongoing arrests, use of excessive police force, and the ill-treatment and possible torture of detainees. “We would like to emphasize the UN High Commissioner’s reminder to the government of Iran that it is obligated to protect human rights defenders, as well as the press, from any form of violence, intimidation, or discrimination, and to hold accountable those who engage in such activities,” said Jeanne Mirer, Co-Chair of the National Lawyers Guild International Committee.
“Today, we join international human rights organizations in condemning the extra-judicial executions and arbitrary convictions of political activists aimed at intimidating and silencing the people of Iran,” said Nancy Hormachea, Co-Chair of the Iran Subcommittee of the National Lawyers Guild. “In particular, we are gravely concerned for the fate of at least 16 defendants who face imminent execution or harsh and repressive punishment for participating in peaceful post-June 12th rallies.” More than 3,000 peaceful political activists remain in detention and are at grave risk of mistreatment.
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.The National Lawyers Guild does not advocate military aggression or sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
###
| permalink | related link
National Lawyers Guild Calls on the New York Bar Association to Immediately Rectify its Panel "Sharing Their Points of View: Tips from Both Sides"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Stephanie Morin-Taylor, NLG Anti-Sexism Committee, 347-592-2294
Garrett Wright, NLG Anti-Racism Committee, 646-459-3012
New York--The National Lawyers Guild New York City Chapter (NLG - NYC) and the national NLG Anti-Sexism and Anti-Racism Committees continue to have serious concerns about the upcoming New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) panel previously entitled "Their Point of View: Tips from the Other Side" and currently entitled "Sharing their Points of View: Tips from Both Sides." While the NLG-NYC appreciates NYSBA's recent decision to include women on what had been a male-only panel, the panel remains problematic for the following reasons.
First, the new panel description continues to state that male attorneys will be giving “tips” to women about what they can do to “strengthen their practice”. This suggests that the discussion may still result in the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and a failure to openly address the ways in which sexism delimits the opportunities and experiences of women in the workplace.
Furthermore, any discussion of challenges that women face in the legal profession must also recognize that sexism is shaped by other forms of oppression including discrimination on the basis of race, class, sexual orientation, age, nationality, and physical or mental disability.
Second, to the extent that men can contribute to such a discussion, they should be encouraged to direct their remarks to the ways in which institutionalized, organizational and interpersonal sexism is manifested in the legal profession. We hope this change in focus would result in a greater commitment on the part of men on the panel and in the audience to engage in critical self-reflection and action to fight sexism wherever it exists.
We therefore call upon the NYSBA Committee on Women in the Law to incorporate the foregoing recommendations into the January 26th, 2010 panel.
The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Consistent with its mission to work as a political and social force in the service of the people, the NLG has committees such as the Anti-Sexism and Anti-Racism Committees, which work to eradicate multiple forms of oppression within society and the legal profession.
###
| permalink | related link
National Lawyers Guild Calls On President Obama to Withdraw Nomination of Sharon Browne to the Legal Services Corporation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Paige Cram, Communications Coordinator, communications@nlg.org, 212-679-5100, ext.15
New York--The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) calls on President Obama to withdraw the nomination of Sharon Browne to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). On December 17, Obama announced his intention to nominate Ms. Brown, a principal attorney and member of the senior management at the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation and a member of the Civil Rights Practice Group of the Federalist Society.
The Legal Services Corporation is the nation’s principal funder of civil legal aid for the poor. Established by Congress in 1974, it operates by providing grants to—and overseeing—independent nonprofit legal aid programs throughout the US. The LSC operates as a private, nonprofit corporation, with a board of directors composed of 11 members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. By law, the board is bipartisan: no more than six members may be of the same political party.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, in contrast, describes itself as a "public interest legal organization that fights for limited government, property rights, individual rights and a balanced approach to environmental protection." At the PLF, Browne has authored briefs arguing against race-based school district assignment policies. She and the PLF have also been ardent supporters of Prop. 209, the 1996 ballot initiative that ended most affirmative action programs in California.
Not only does the PLF oppose much of what Legal Services stands for, but it has also directly opposed funding for Legal Services agencies. The PLF filed an amicus brief seven years ago in support of litigation challenging the legality of IOLTAs, or Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, which are an essential supplementary funding resource for Legal Services agencies around the country.
While this slot on the LSC Board cannot legally go to a Democrat and while the minority members are traditionally selected by the minority party’s congressional leadership, there is no legal bar and ample precedent for naming an independent rather than a member of the opposition party. At the very least, the president is obligated to nominate someone who believes in the importance of ensuring that the poor be afforded the legal services they need. We note, for example, that the recently-deceased former head of the Legal Services Corporation, William McAlpin, was a Republican who fought vigorously to strengthen it.
The National Lawyers Guild calls on President Obama to withdraw Sharon Browne's nomination and either appoint an independent or invite the Senate Minority Leader to offer a candidate who will seek to strengthen the Legal Services Corporation.
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.
###
| permalink | related link
National Lawyers Guild Releases Policy Paper on How Corporate Interests Influence State Terrorism Legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Paige Cram, 212-679-5100 ext. 15
New York--The National Lawyers Guild has issued a policy paper showing the influence of model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative group of state legislators, on state legislation around the country.
Federal legislation passed in 2006, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), was largely drafted by ALEC and has drawn a great deal of attention and criticism from animal rights and environmental activists. The Act which purports to protect animal enterprises from so-called “eco-terrorists,” is a vague and unnecessarily broad law that has already been used to restrict First Amendment rights. The Guild’s policy paper, Beyond AETA: How Corporate-Crafted Legislation Brands Activists as Terrorists, explains that AETA is not unique in this respect. Similar bills have been introduced in several state legislatures over the last few years, and most of them stem from the model bill produced by ALEC.
ALEC’s model legislation:
- Suggests adding the phrase “politically motivated” to the definition of an “animal or ecological terrorist organization,” which clearly shows that the bill is designed to suppress speech based on its content.
- Defines illegal activity so broadly that anyone using the Internet or email to plan (or even express support for) an act of “animal or ecological terrorism” can be charged.
- Creates a “terrorist registry” – an online database open to the public which contains names, addresses and photos of everyone convicted of “animal or ecological terrorism.”
NLG Executive Director Heidi Boghosian said: “Although many states considered and outright rejected the ALEC bill soon after its release, there are still signs that parts of the legislation are being incorporated in some states’ laws that equate animal rights activists with domestic terrorism. The Guild remains vigilant in tracking the development of such overly-broad legislation.”
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.
Read the policy paper at www.nlg.org.
###
| permalink | related link
Next