May 15, 2013, New York – Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) released the following statement in response to the leak of a City memo on the judge overseeing the Center’s class action stop-and-frisk case. 

The NYPD’s attempt to attack Judge Shira Scheindlin for some fantasized anti-police bias is nothing short of outrageous. Having already attacked the Center for Constitutional Rights, communities mobilizing to end violent and discriminatory policing, and the press, this attack on a respected judge scrapes the bottom of the litigation barrel. It reflects desperation in light of the accumulation of evidence pointing to their liability in this case and appears to be an unseemly attempt at judicial intimidation during trial. Rather than undertaking studies about Judge Sheindlin’s rulings, the City might consider undertaking studies to remedy the persistent constitutional violations in its police department. As counsel to the City, Michael Cardozo should take responsibility for – and publicly repudiate – this inappropriate stunt.