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News & ArtsTuesday, March 12, 2013
Crime Judge Approves Police Reform Plan
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 3:40 PM
From the Seattle Times:
A federal judge this afternoon approved an independent monitor’s first-year reform plan for the Seattle Police Department, putting in place specific deadlines and tasks ranging from use of force to crisis intervention.
U.S. District Judge James Robart, who is overseeing a settlement agreement reached in July between the city and the Department of Justice, accepted the plan at the urging of the city and federal attorneys.
1
Clarification: At the urging of the City or at the urging of the City Attorney? Or was this the City represented by the City Attorney?
3
An unregistered commenter in yesterday's "Mr. Mayor vs. City Attorney" thread pointed to a fantastic article by Daniel Jack Chasan on Crosscut that actually bothers to dig into the facts around the question. He even ties it in with Goldy's favorite dustup from last year, Goldmark v. McKenna. Super work by Mr. Chasan. Thanks, unregistered person! http://crosscut.com/2013/03/11/seattle-c…
4
SPD doesn't need reform, the douchebag Seattle-ites need it.
Helpful hint: Do what the Police says when they give you a lawful order, and keep your hands where they can see them. This includes dropping the knife when they tell you to BTW...
Helpful hint: Do what the Police says when they give you a lawful order, and keep your hands where they can see them. This includes dropping the knife when they tell you to BTW...
5
The Bar's Code of Professional Responsibility also notes:
1.13
Government Agency
[9] The duty defined in this Rule applies to governmental organizations.
Defining precisely the identity of the client and prescribing the resulting
obligations of such lawyers may be more difficult in the government context
and is a matter beyond the scope of these Rules. See Scope [18]. Although
in some circumstances the client may be a specific agency, it may also be a
branch of government, such as the executive branch, or the government as a
whole. For example, if the action or failure to act involves the head of a
bureau, either the department of which the bureau is a part or the relevant
branch of government may be the client for purposes of this Rule. Moreover,
in a matter involving the conduct of government officials, a government
lawyer may have authority under applicable law to question such conduct
more extensively than that of a lawyer for a private organization in
similar circumstances. Thus, when the client is a governmental
organization, a different balance may be appropriate between maintaining
confidentiality and assuring that the wrongful act is prevented or
rectified, for public business is involved. In addition, duties of lawyers
employed by the government or lawyers in military service may be defined by
statutes and regulation. This Rule does not limit that authority. See Scope.
1.13
Government Agency
[9] The duty defined in this Rule applies to governmental organizations.
Defining precisely the identity of the client and prescribing the resulting
obligations of such lawyers may be more difficult in the government context
and is a matter beyond the scope of these Rules. See Scope [18]. Although
in some circumstances the client may be a specific agency, it may also be a
branch of government, such as the executive branch, or the government as a
whole. For example, if the action or failure to act involves the head of a
bureau, either the department of which the bureau is a part or the relevant
branch of government may be the client for purposes of this Rule. Moreover,
in a matter involving the conduct of government officials, a government
lawyer may have authority under applicable law to question such conduct
more extensively than that of a lawyer for a private organization in
similar circumstances. Thus, when the client is a governmental
organization, a different balance may be appropriate between maintaining
confidentiality and assuring that the wrongful act is prevented or
rectified, for public business is involved. In addition, duties of lawyers
employed by the government or lawyers in military service may be defined by
statutes and regulation. This Rule does not limit that authority. See Scope.
6
And from the Code of Professional Responsibility Scope section:
[18] Under various legal provisions, including constitutional,
statutory and common law, the responsibilities of government lawyers may
include authority concerning legal matters that ordinarily reposes in the
client in private client-lawyer relationships. For example, a lawyer for a
government agency may have authority on behalf of the government to decide
upon settlement or whether to appeal from an adverse judgment. Such
authority in various respects is generally vested in the attorney general
and the state's attorney in state government, and their federal
counterparts, and the same may be true of other government law officers.
Also, lawyers under the supervision of these officers may be authorized to
represent several government agencies in intragovernmental legal
controversies in circumstances where a private lawyer could not represent
multiple private clients. These Rules do not abrogate any such authority.
[18] Under various legal provisions, including constitutional,
statutory and common law, the responsibilities of government lawyers may
include authority concerning legal matters that ordinarily reposes in the
client in private client-lawyer relationships. For example, a lawyer for a
government agency may have authority on behalf of the government to decide
upon settlement or whether to appeal from an adverse judgment. Such
authority in various respects is generally vested in the attorney general
and the state's attorney in state government, and their federal
counterparts, and the same may be true of other government law officers.
Also, lawyers under the supervision of these officers may be authorized to
represent several government agencies in intragovernmental legal
controversies in circumstances where a private lawyer could not represent
multiple private clients. These Rules do not abrogate any such authority.
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