This afternoon, U.S. District Court judge Richard Jones issued his ruling on sanctions for SPD’s violation of his injunction restricting the department’s use of crowd-control weapons. He also ruled against the city on two related matters, setting up the city to appeal his contempt ruling from last month.
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Judge holds city in contempt for violations of crowd-control injunction
This morning U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones issued a highly anticipated ruling in the contempt charges against the City of Seattle for SPD’s alleged violations of the judge’s injunction restraining the police department’s use of crowd-control weapons.
Continue readingCity responds to BLM contempt allegations
Earlier this week, the City of Seattle filed its response to allegations from Black Lives Matter and the ACLU that it should be held in contempt for violating a preliminary injunction placing restrictions on SPD’s use of crowd-control weapons. The city’s response is a strong defense to the contempt charge, but it raises many additional questions about the way that SPD handles protests.
Continue readingContempt charge against SPD for violating crowd-control weapon injunction inches toward evidentiary hearing
This morning U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones held a status conference with attorneys for the ACLU, Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and the City of Seattle. They met to hammer out some of the details of an evidentiary hearing on whether the city should be found in contempt of Jones’s preliminary injunction restricting SPD’s use of crowd-control weapons. But those details, as it turns out, are messy.
Continue readingBLM lawsuit over crowd-control devices shelved for now after parties agree on updated injunction
This morning, the City of Seattle and plaintiffs Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and the ACLU jointly asked Judge Jones to approve an update to his earlier order on SPD’s use of crowd-control devices. Judge quickly approved it. His order also dismisses the plaintiffs’ contempt allegation, and stays the case until Judge Robart rules next month on the validity of the City Council’s ordinance banning crowd-control weapons.
Continue readingTrial date set for contempt charges over SPD use of crowd-control weapons (UPDATED)
This morning, Judge Richard Jones set a trial date and determined several other parameters for his consideration of contempt charges over SPD’s alleged violation last Saturday of a preliminary injunction that restricts the department’s use of crowd-control weapons. The five-day trial will begin on August 26 and conclude on September 1.
Continue readingJudge Jones orders evidentiary hearing on SPD contempt charge
This afternoon, Judge Richard Jones issued an order calling for an evidentiary hearing to resolve the accusation by the ACLU and Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County that the Seattle Police Department violated the judge’s preliminary injunction and is thus in contempt.
Continue readingCity responds to motion for contempt, denies wrongdoing
Late this afternoon the City of Seattle filed a response to the motion earlier this week by Black Lives Matter and the ACLU to hold the city in contempt for violations of the preliminary injunction put in place by Judge RIchard Jones last month. That injunction put restrictions on SPD’s use of crowd-control weapons, include tear gas and blast balls.
Continue readingJudge issues temporary restraining order restricting SPD’s use of crowd-control tools
This afternoon, U.S. District Court Richard Jones issued a temporary restraining order that restricts Seattle Police Department from using some “less lethal” crowd control devices.
Continue readingWith no deal on temporary restraining order, Black Lives Matter and city face off in court tomorrow morning
Yesterday I reported that lawyers for Black Lives Matter and for the City of Seattle were trying to negotiate a mutually agreeable temporary restraining order related to the city’s use of “less lethal” weapons such as tear gas, rubber bullets and blast balls for crowd control during the ongoing protests. But having failed to reach an agreement today, the issue now heads to a hearing tomorrow morning with U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones. In advance of that hearing, late this afternoon the city filed a brief with the city opposing the request for a temporary restraining order.
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