As it stands right now, there are three separate efforts to write rules for how SPD may (or mostly may not) use so-called “less lethal” weapons for crowd control purposes. Since each of the efforts is complex on its own, and the relationship and interactions between them provide additional complications, it’s worth reviewing the whole set to understand where things currently stand and where they might go from here.
Continue readingTag: BLM
Catching up on court cases: January 8, 2021
It’s time for a quick catch-up on three court cases: the Sawant recall petition, the ACLU/Black Lives Matter crowd control weapons case, and the landlords’ challenge to the city and state eviction moratoria.
Continue readingJudge 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 readingUpdate on court cases – October 19, 2020
It’s been a busy day for the city in court. Here are four updates — if nothing else, reading the briefs might just cure your insomnia.
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 readingNew lawsuit filed against City of Seattle over SPD response to protests
Yesterday five Seattle protesters filed a lawsuit against the city over alleged SPD’s use of crowd-control weapons at protests, in particular the protest-turned riot on July 25th. Their allegations, as well as their requests for the court to take action, are similar to the case filed by Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and the ACLU — so similar, in fact, that it’s questionable whether it will be able to continue as a separate case.
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 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 reading