June 12, 2013, New York – Today, Center for Constitutional Rights attorneys and co-counsel issued the statement below responding to published accounts that the United States Department of Justice plans to support the appointment of a court-appointed monitor if the judge on the case finds the implementation of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk program unconstitutional.
As part of our class action lawsuit Floyd v. City of New York, we filed a brief on March 4th seeking comprehensive remedial changes, including oversight by a court-appointed monitor, assuming the court finds the City liable. The DOJ has put in place similar agreements with other cases alleging widespread unconstitutional policing practices. It is high time the City of New York and its police department stop their obstinate non-compliance with the law and accept that the kind of significant change necessary to fix the problems with the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices will require outside monitoring.
The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the City’s stop-and-frisk program on behalf of the thousands of New Yorkers who are illegally stopped each year.
The trial concluded on May 20, and post-trial submissions are being filed today.
Center for Constitutional Rights co-counsel in the case are Covington & Burling LLP and Beldock Levine and Hoffman LLP.
Read more on the federal class action lawsuit at Floyd et al v. City of New York et al.
The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, the Center for Constitutional Rights has taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach. Learn more at ccrjustice.org.
Last modified
June 12, 2013