This Month at the WLC: Nevertheless, we persist.

MARCH 2017 | Washington Lawyers' Committee eNewsletter

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Dear Friend of the Washington Lawyers' Committee,

Efforts to create greater equality of opportunity are under siege. Changes in federal policy seek to roll back hard fought gains and Congressional action is poised to limit access to the courts. Nevertheless, progress on critical civil rights issues remains possible.

In this newsletter, we are proud to announce the resolution of several cases that not only vindicate rights, but make new law that expands legal protections. We are humbled by the hard work of our co-counsel and staff to achieve these important victories.

Jonathan Smith
Executive Director, Washington Lawyers' Committee

If you or someone you know has experienced any act of hate or bias because of their race, gender, national origin, religion, or disability, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee is ready to help. Please contact us at 202-319-1000. Click here for more information.

Historic Settlement for Mentally Ill Prisoners

The federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado confines prisoners in extreme isolation for years, and in some cases decades. The conditions and inhumane treatment at the prison caused prisoners to engage in unthinkable acts of self harm and exacerbates their mental illness. After more than four years of litigation, the WLC and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer reached a settlement that addresses some of the harshest conditions and ensures that most prisoners with mental illness will not be transferred there.

DC Squandering Opportunities to Further Fair Housing

The District of Columbia is legally required to take steps to ensure that housing is available to all persons on an equal basis without regard to race, gender, or familial status. It has been “squandering opportunities” to do so, according to a letter obtained by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee. The letter, from HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity to Mayor Bowser, expresses concern that DC’s blueprint for how the city will spend federal money fails to further fair housing in the District or address previously identified impediments to fair housing. The District’s failure to adequately address these issues only exacerbates the City’s affordable housing crisis and its increasingly economically, ethnically, and racially segregated communities.

Judgement in Public Strip Search Case

In October, we shared the story of Allan Sergeant, who was illegally strip-searched in front of a CVS after a baseless traffic stop by the Laurel, MD police. This month, he settled a case for $125,000, receiving compensation from the Maryland police officer who violated his rights and unnecessarily humiliated him. There was substantial evidence in the case that he was stopped because of his race and searched because he spoke with a Caribbean accent. "This judgement should be a cautionary tale for officers who overstep their authority," said WLC Senior Staff Attorney Dennis Corkery.

1st Amendment Right to Videophone

In a recent landmark decision, the Fourth Circuit held that failing to provide a videophone to a prisoner who is deaf so that he can communicate with people outside of prison may violate his First Amendment rights. The Court also held that failing to provide sign language interpretation for medical and mental health appointments constitutes deliberate indifference and may violate the Fifth and Eight Amendments. The ruling reversed the trial court’s dismissal of the claims of our client, Thomas Heyer. Mr. Heyer’s case will now proceed to discovery and trial.

In Memory of Tom Williamson

The Committee is deeply saddened by the death of Tom Williamson. Tom was an inspiring leader, a generous mentor and an unfailing friend for decades. His involvement with the Committee for more than 40 years is a testament to his compassion and generosity towards everyone in our society. Tom’s family has designated the Committee as one way for people to honor Tom’s memory. In doing so, your gift will support the civil rights in which he so strongly believed.

More March News

Ruth Richards’s discriminatory policing case will proceed to discovery, with the district judge sending a clear message that the Constitution does not allow police officers to hide behind pretext to disparately arrest people because of their race and national origin.
Mina Johnson, a long-time African-American civilian employee of the Prince George’s County Police Department, filed a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of race and sex after she discovered that her salary was $35,000 lower than comparable white co-workers.
The Committee and the 21st Century Schools Fund asked the DC Charter School Board to deny petitions by KIPP and DC Prep to expand in light of concerns about excessive and disparate discipline and the existing supply of open public school seats.
WLC’s Catherine Cone called upon the DC Zoning Commission to preserve family-friendly and affordable housing.
The Committee and the Equal Rights Center opposed the president’s proposed budget cuts to critical housing programs.
WLC’s Education Project Director Kent Withycombe discussed why a high quality and free public education for all children is a fundamental civil right on the Multiracial Family Man podcast with Alex Barnett.

Fight Injustice & Inequality with WLC: Volunteer and Pro Bono Opportunities

Gratitude

We have BIG NEWS thanks to two incredibly generous grants from the DC Bar Foundation. We cannot wait to share more soon!!
Our sincere thanks to the Herb Block Foundation for supporting the work of WLC’s DC Prisoners’ Project.
Thank you to Morgan Lewis for hosting the Associates Campaign kickoff meeting, and providing a delicious breakfast!
Shout-out to Kirkland for an outstanding March Madness fundraiser and leading the Associates Campaign so far!
Thanks to the generous support of Covington & Burling, Marques Banks will join us in September as an Equal Justice Works fellow. Marques will work on issues related to the criminalization of poverty and communities of color. He will focus on excessive court financial obligations, access to public defense, and debtor’s prisons.
Tiffany Yang also will join us in the fall as a Skadden fellow. Tiffany will focus on the collateral consequences of criminal system involvement. Her works will include cases to implement ban-the-box legislation, challenging the use of criminal records as a pretext for race discrimination and other collateral consequences.
Many thanks to the firms who baked cookies, cakes, and pies to raise money for their partner schools during the Annual DCPS Bake Off contest! Final results coming soon.
The Committee is humbled that so many people have chosen to remember Tom Williamson with a gift in his honor. We have already received more than $50,000 to continue his legacy as a champion of civil rights.

Thank You to Our 2017 Corporate Advisory Board Members

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