The Supreme Court Makes It Harder To Hold Government Actors Accountable For Civil Rights Violations
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CONTACT: CONTACT: The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights: Cristóbal Joshua Alex (212.244.4664; 206.427.3679); Seth Galanter (202.887.6947)
The Supreme Court of the United States today overruled an important principle that played a critical role in clarifying government obligations and constitutional rights.
In Pearson v. Callahan, the Supreme Court overruled a principle established by Saucier v. Katz, which required courts to decide whether a government official violated the Constitution before deciding whether the government official was on notice that his conduct violated the Constitution. By overruling Saucier, courts will now be able to avoid determining whether a government actor’s conduct violated the Constitution. The Saucier rule helped to make sure that government actors are accountable for their actions.
CONTACT: The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights: Tanene Allison (212) 244-4664 or Cristóbal Joshua Alex (206) 427-3679
NEW YORK, NY- The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights (The Rollback Campaign) recognizes Michelle Dominguez as a leader in the use of online media to promote a new civil rights era and to push public discussion on social justice issues.
The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR) today filed an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in Pearson v. Callahan, a case involving the warrantless search of a home. A key issue before the Court is whether to overrule a judicial doctrine that offers some hope that courthouse doors remain open for victims injured by repeated unconstitutional conduct. NCRCR argues that the case that established this doctrine, Saucier v. Katz, 522 U.S. 194 (2001), should not be overruled because doing so would limit the ability to hold government officials accountable for civil rights violations.
CONTACT: The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights: Tanene Allison (212) 244-4664
Today, a key committee at the United Nations raised concern over racism in the United States and the government’s failure to combat racial inequality. In its findings, the U.N. committee highlights ways in which racial discrimination still plays a role in the American experience.
The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) repeatedly expressed concern that civil and human rights in the U.S. have been “rolled back”. Problems range from racial segregation in the schools and racial disparities in the criminal justice system, to decreased access to the courts.
CONTACT: The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights: Tanene Allison (212) 244-4664
MADISON, WI - February 29 –
On Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Cristóbal Joshua Alex, Campaign Coordinator of the National Campaign To Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR) will speak at the University of Wisconsin Law School about the Rollback of the Civil Rights Era and the role of the Presidential selection process in fighting for civil rights.
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