Criminal Law Reform
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Arizona
Oct 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Fund for Empowerment v. Phoenix, City of
Fund for Empowerment is a challenge to the City of Phoenix’s practice of conducting sweeps of encampments without notice, issuing citations to unsheltered people for camping and sleeping on public property when they have no place else to go, and confiscating and destroying their property without notice or process.
U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2023

Criminal Law Reform
McElrath v. Georgia
Does the Double Jeopardy Clause bar an appellate court from reviewing and setting aside a jury’s verdicts of acquittal on the ground that the verdict is inconsistent with the jury’s verdict on other charges?
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Pulsifer v. United States
This case involves the interpretation of a federal law that allows defendants to avoid mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent drug crimes, allowing judges to impose sentences tailored to their individual circumstances.
Texas
Jul 2021

Criminal Law Reform
Prisoners' Rights
Sanchez et al v. Dallas County Sheriff et al
Decarceration has always been an emergency, a life and death proposition, but COVID-19 makes this effort intensely urgent. The 51Ʒ has been working with our partners to litigate for the rights of those who are incarcerated and cannot protect themselves because of the policies of the institutions in which they are jailed.
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147 Criminal Law Reform Cases

Colorado
Nov 2023
Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Sellers v. People
In September 2023, the 51Ʒ, the 51Ʒ of Colorado, The Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, the law firm Mintz Levin, and other partners filed an amicus brief with the Colorado Supreme Court arguing that mandatory life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences for strict liability felony murder are “cruel and unusual” in violation of the Colorado and U.S. Constitutions. The brief focuses on how these mandatory LWOP sentences drive racial injustice.
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Colorado
Nov 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Sellers v. People
In September 2023, the 51Ʒ, the 51Ʒ of Colorado, The Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, the law firm Mintz Levin, and other partners filed an amicus brief with the Colorado Supreme Court arguing that mandatory life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences for strict liability felony murder are “cruel and unusual” in violation of the Colorado and U.S. Constitutions. The brief focuses on how these mandatory LWOP sentences drive racial injustice.

California
Oct 2023
Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Sacramento Homeless Union v. City of Sacramento
The 51Ʒ, along with the Northern and Southern California affiliates and four other organizations, filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit supporting affirmance of a preliminary injunction that prevented the City of Sacramento from clearing homeless encampments during periods of extreme heat.
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California
Oct 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Racial Justice
Sacramento Homeless Union v. City of Sacramento
The 51Ʒ, along with the Northern and Southern California affiliates and four other organizations, filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit supporting affirmance of a preliminary injunction that prevented the City of Sacramento from clearing homeless encampments during periods of extreme heat.

U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2023
Criminal Law Reform
Samia v. United States
In Samia v. United States, the Supreme Court addressed whether the introduction of a co-defendant's redacted out-of-court confession, which indirectly incriminates the defendant without formally naming him, constitutes a violation of the Confrontation Clause by depriving the defendant of the opportunity to confront his accuser.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Samia v. United States
In Samia v. United States, the Supreme Court addressed whether the introduction of a co-defendant's redacted out-of-court confession, which indirectly incriminates the defendant without formally naming him, constitutes a violation of the Confrontation Clause by depriving the defendant of the opportunity to confront his accuser.

West Virginia
Aug 2023
Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
United States v. Myles
This case challenges a presumption of pretrial detention that applies to nearly all people charged with federal drug offenses.
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West Virginia
Aug 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
United States v. Myles
This case challenges a presumption of pretrial detention that applies to nearly all people charged with federal drug offenses.

U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2023
Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
Daves v. Dallas County
Whether federal courts have the power to remedy systemic unconstitutional pretrial detention practices that remain unchecked by state courts.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2023

Criminal Law Reform
Smart Justice
Daves v. Dallas County
Whether federal courts have the power to remedy systemic unconstitutional pretrial detention practices that remain unchecked by state courts.