On Monday, June 17th, 2013, People’s Law Office attorney Jan Susler gave a presentation to the United Nations Decolonization Committee hearings on Puerto Rico. She spoke on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild International Committee, which has a long history of defending  activists in the Puerto Rican independence movement.…

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By G. Flint Taylor

June is Torture Awareness Month, and this year the National Religious Campaign Against Torture has declared its theme to be “healing a culture of torture.” So once again it is time to review what, if anything, Chicago public officials have done to cleanse the conscience of a City stained by the long running Jon Burge torture scandal.  …

The post It’s Time To Heal the Wounds from Chicago Police Torture appeared first on People's Law Office.

After 7 years of intense litigation, PLO lawyers recently settled Randy Steidl’s
wrongful conviction case against the Paris, Illinois police and Edgar County State’s Attorney Michael McFatridge for $3.5 million. When combined with Steidl’s previous settlement of $2.5 million with the Illinois State Police defendants, the total settlement comes to $6 million, which is thought to be the largest of its kind in downstate Illinois

Read more about Randy Steidl’s civil rights lawsuit here:

Final Chapter in Steidl Wrongful Conviction Case Unfolds

Randy Steidl’s Wrongful Conviction Case Resolved for $6 Million

Appellate Court Victory in Randy Steidl’s Wrongful Conviction Case

March 28, 2013 Tribune Article: 9 years later, freed man wins $3.5 million judgment

Illinois Times Article: From death row to hero

Witness to Innocence: Randy Steidl

To learn about more successes People’s Law Office has achieved for their clients, visit the Victories section of this site.…

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On March 17, 2005, Hassiba Belbachir, a 27 year old woman from Algeria who was being detained in immigration (ICE) custody while she applied for political asylum, died in her cell at the McHenry County Jail. She was found lying on the floor of her cell, her jail-issued knee socks wrapped around her neck with her face purplish in color, indicating that she had died some time before she was found.…

The post PLO Fights for Constitutional Rights for Undocumented Persons appeared first on People's Law Office.

Written by Brad Thomson of People’s Law Office, originally appeared on nlg.org

Today marks 32 years that Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera has spent in U.S. prison for his involvement in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence.

Background

In 1980, 11 men and women involved with the movement for Puerto Rican independence were arrested and subsequently charged with “Seditious conspiracy to oppose the legitimate authority of the United States government in Puerto Rico by force.” At the time, Oscar was not arrested but was named as a co-defendant in the indictment.…

The post The Movement to Free Oscar Lopez Rivera appeared first on People's Law Office.

By G. Flint Taylor

During a week in which Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s disapproval rate on two racially charged local issues skyrocketed, he found time to write a glowing letter to Federal District Judge Susie Morgan in support of former Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard’s bid to become the monitor of the sweeping consent decree that the Department of Justice has obtained to oversee the New Orleans Police Department.…

The post Embattled Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Weighs in on New Orleans Police Monitor: Submitted to HP and CST appeared first on People's Law Office.

By: Sharlyn Grace

In October 2011, over 300 people associated with Occupy Chicago were arrested and charged with violating the City of Chicago ordinance that barred them from being in Grant Park between 11:00pm and 6:00am. Many of those arrested decided to pay their fines or perform community service, but 92 defendants decided to fight back.…

The post Occupy Chicago Appeal Will Review City Ordinance’s Limits on Free Speech appeared first on People's Law Office.

Brad Thomson, Legal Worker at People’s Law Office
Article originally appeared at nlg.org

Today is May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day. It is being recognized by millions of working people throughout the world. For over a century, May Day has been a day of celebration for people struggling against exploitation and oppression.…

The post May Day and the National Lawyers Guild appeared first on People's Law Office.

By G. Flint Taylor

More than twelve years ago, a coalition of activists, frustrated by the decades long refusal of the Cook County State’s Attorneys’ Office to investigate and prosecute Jon Burge and his crew of police torturers, started a campaign for the appointment of a special prosecutor. …

The post Cook County States Attorneys’ Office Disqualified (Again) From Burge Torture Cases appeared first on People's Law Office.

by Sharlyn Grace

On Monday, April 8, 2013, U.S. District Court judge Amy St. Eve issued a permanent injunction preventing Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez from prosecuting members of the general public who openly audio record on-duty police officers in public places.…

The post Federal Court Enjoins Alvarez from Prosecuting Anyone Openly Recording On-Duty Police appeared first on People's Law Office.