Key Cases
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Nelson v. Constant
Unlawful Fees and Fines
The MacArthur Justice Center has filed a federal class action contending that the City of Gretna over-enforces traffic regulations and excessively charges nonviolent misdemeanor offenses to fund the Court and City’s budget and that the Mayor’s Court is fundamentally tainted by conflict of interest.
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Caliste v. Cantrell
Cash Bail
The MacArthur Justice Center is pursuing a federal class action lawsuit against Orleans Magistrate Judge Harry E. Cantrell challenging his practice of setting high bail amounts without any consideration of the person’s ability to pay or alternative no-cost conditions of release. Judge Cantrell also insists on using commercial bond companies (rather than cash), which require a non-reimbursable fee, a portion of which goes to the court’s General Fund – revenue Cantrell and other judges’ control.
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Alton Sterling Protesters
Rights of Protesters
The MacArthur Justice Center represents fourteen Baton Rouge area residents who were arrested during the protests following the murder of Alton Sterling by police. The suit alleges violations of their constitutional rights, physical injury and denial of necessary medical treatment while in jail; all experience ongoing trauma as a result of their unlawful arrest and brutal treatment by law enforcement officer
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Jordan v. Hall
Death Penalty
The MacArthur Justice's civil rights lawsuit seeks an order to stop Mississippi from using a series of three drugs which raise a significant risk of torture in the course of executions. We contend that Mississippi’s refusal to join the majority of executing states in abandoning the three-drug protocol in favor of a single, overwhelming dose of a barbiturate is contrary to the Eighth Amendment.
In the News
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What to expect in hearing on New Orleans jail expansion as attorneys call first witnesses
NOLA October 5, 2020 -
Judge: Suit over arrest of pipeline protesters can go on
Associated Press October 1, 2020 -
Federal judge has authority to order Phase III of New Orleans jail, civil rights attorneys argue
Lens NOLA September 9, 2020 -
City Council tells criminal court to return more than half-million dollars in bail and conviction fees paid by defendants over last two years
The Lens August 26, 2020